最新美国发明专利第2012-01-10期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08093028B2	Engineered glycosyltransferases with expanded substrate specificity The present invention provides engineered glycosyltransferase enzymes and method for making and using the same possessing an expanded substrate specificity as compared to corresponding non-mutated glycosyltransferase enzymes. Such enzymes expand the variety of substrates that can be used in enzymatic glycosylation methods, including enzymatic glycorandomization, thereby providing increased diversity in chemical products.
US08093023B1	De-fatted soy production process and value added by-products from de-fatted soy flour An improved process for producing de-fatted soy utilizing a de-fatted soy flour and for producing value added by-products from de-fatted soy flour wherein soybeans are de-hulled and the de-hulled stream ground to a flour consistency. The ground soy flour is mixed with water and other additives to produce a vitamin and mineral enriched stream that is then filtered to various value added by-products. In a preferred embodiment the vitamin and mineral enriched stream is filtered through a 0.1-1.0 micron membrane to produce a de-fatted soy product stream and a fatted soy product stream. The fatted soy product stream can be dried to produce dry, less than 12% water by weight, product for use in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. The de-fatted soy product can be filtered through reverse osmosis (RO) filtration unit to obtain a vitamin and mineral enriched product stream that can be dried to powder form and used as a food supplement additive. If desired the full fatted soy flour or the de-fatted soy product stream can be combined with whole stillage from an ethanol process and used in producing various other value added products.
US08093017B2	Detection of soluble adiponectin receptor peptides and use in diagnostics and therapeutics The present invention relates to soluble C-terminal fragments of the adiponectin receptor and their use in the diagnosis and management of disorders.
US08093016B2	Use of an aspartic protease (NS24) signal sequence for heterologous protein expression The invention relates to heterologous polypeptide expression and secretion by filamentous fungi and vectors and processes for expression and secretion of such polypeptides. More particularly, the invention discloses the use of a signal sequence form an aspartic protease obtained from Trichoderma and referred to as an NSP24 signal sequence.
US08093013B2	Claudins as markers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis and as targets of therapy for breast and metastatic brain or bone cancer Methods of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of breast cancer, and of metastatic brain cancer, are provided The diagnostic and prognostic methods involve the immunohistochemical detection of the level of expression of the proteins claudin 1, 3, 4, and 7 in tissue or cell samples. Claudins 1 and 7 are underexpressed in the majority of breast cancers, and claudins 3 and 4 are overexpressed. The methods of treatment involve the use of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (or a variant thereof) to lyse metastatic cancer cells in the brain and bone that overexpress claudins 3 and 4.
US08093011B2	Biological markers predictive of anti-cancer response to epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitors The present invention provides diagnostic and prognostic methods for predicting the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer patient with an EGFR kinase inhibitor. Methods are provided for predicting the sensitivity of tumor cell growth to inhibition by an EGFR kinase inhibitor, comprising assessing whether the tumor cell has undergone an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), by determining the expression level of epithelial and/or mesenchymal biomarkers, wherein tumor cells that have undergone an EMT are substantially less sensitive to inhibition by EGFR kinase inhibitors. Improved methods for treating cancer patients with EGFR kinase inhibitors that incorporate the above methodology are also provided. Additionally, methods are provided for the identification of new biomarkers that are predictive of responsiveness of tumors to EGFR kinase inhibitors. Furthermore, methods for the identification of agents that restore the sensitivity of tumor cells that have undergone EMT to inhibition by EGFR kinase inhibitors are also provided.
US08093008B2	Characterization of granulocytic ehrlichia and methods of use The present invention relates, in general, to granulocytic ehrlichia (GE) proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules coding for GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins; purified GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins and polypeptides; recombinant nucleic acid molecules; cells containing the recombinant nucleic acid molecules; antibodies having binding affinity specifically to GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins and polypeptides; hybridomas containing the antibodies; nucleic acid probes for the detection of nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins; a method of detecting nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins or polypeptides in a sample; kits containing nucleic acid probes or antibodies; bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess, or prognose a mammal afflicted with ehrlichiosis; therapeutic uses, specifically vaccines comprising S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins or polypeptides or nucleic acids; and methods of preventing or inhibiting ehrlichiosis in an animal.
US08093007B2	Method for determining antagonist activity to a cytokinin receptor The present invention provides a method for analyzing agonist-activity to a cytokinin receptor, which comprises (1) bringing an examinee substance into contact with a transformed cell into which DNA coding the cytokinin receptor is introduced and (2) measuring the existence or the quantity of intracellular signal transduction from the cytokinin receptor expressed in the transformed cell, and, a method for analyzing antagonist activity to a cytokinin receptor, which comprises (1) bringing an examinee substance and a substance having agonist-activity to the cytokinin receptor into contact with a transformed cell into which DNA coding the cytokinin receptor is introduced and (2) measuring the existence or the quantity of intracellular signal transduction from the cytokinin receptor expressed in the transformed cell, and the like.
US08093001B2	Detection and diagnosis of smoking related cancers Gene probes for specific regions of chromosome 3 (3p21.3) and chromosome 10 (10q22) have been found to be tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of smoking related cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For example, these probes can be used with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and used to stratify smokers into high and low risk groups, as well as determine a patients susceptibility to the development of smoking related cancers.
US08093000B2	Methods for predicting and treating tumors resistant to drug, immunotherapy, and radiation The present invention relates to methods for prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of malignant tumors that were treatment resistant. The present invention provides methods of prognosis and diagnosis of multidrug resistant tumors through detection of the expression levels of nuclear co-repressor 2 (“N-CoR2”), histone deacetylases 3 (“HDAC3”), and their associated gene expression biomarkers. The present invention also provides methods of sensitizing tumors to anti-tumor therapeutics by disrupting HDAC3 activation, abrogating the N-CoR2-HDAC3 interaction, inhibiting the activity of either protein, or by down-regulating the expression of either protein.
US08092999B2	Biological sample reaction chip and biological sample reaction method A biological sample reaction chip, including: a plurality of reaction containers; a reaction liquid introduction channel having a reaction liquid supply opening at a first end and an evacuation opening at a second end; and a reaction liquid quantifying channel, a third end of which is connected to one of the reaction containers, and a fourth end of which is connected to the reaction liquid introduction channel, wherein an interior of each of the reaction containers is coated with a reagent that is necessary for a reaction.
US08092996B2	Method for detecting cystic fibrosis The present invention relates to methods for amplifying various regions of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. Methods are provided for amplifying one or all 27 exons of the CFTR gene and a portion of the CFTR promoter region in a single tube. The method can identify the presence or absence of CF deletions or insertions in a sample and assist in the diagnosis of a genetic predisposition to cystic fibrosis.
US08092991B2	De novo enzymatic production of nucleic acid molecules The present invention relates to methods for making a nucleic acid molecule and methods for ligating oligonucleotides. The method includes ligating a first at least partially double-stranded oligonucleotide that has a first and second single-stranded overhang to a second at least partially double-stranded oligonucleotide that has a recognition site for a type IIS restriction enzyme, a modification allowing the oligonucleotide to be coupled to a surface, and a single-stranded overhang. The ligation product can be cleaved with a type IIS restriction enzyme, thereby releasing an elongated fragment having two single-stranded overhangs. These steps can be repeated by using the elongated fragment in a subsequent ligation to another at least partially double-stranded oligonucleotide that has a type IIS restriction enzyme recognition site.
US08092990B2	Apparatus and method for detecting microscopic organisms using bacteriophage Methods and apparatus are provided for detection of microorganisms in a sample. Methods and apparatus of the invention are based on the specificity that phage, for example bacteriophage, have for target microorganisms, for example bacterium. Typically, phage adsorption to target microorganisms act as signal, or a signal target, for the presence of the target microorganism. Typically, the phage are labeled with a detectable signal. Apparatus of the invention are directed toward concentrating the phage adsorbed microorganisms at a predetermined site for flag dependent observation.
US08092989B2	Targeting the histone code as a bacterial strategy for selectively modulating gene expression The ospF gene of Shigella flexneri encodes a phosphatase, which is a member of a new class of phosphatases. The OspF phosphatase inhibits the activity of several proteins either by direct protein modification or transcription downregulation. These proteins include MAP kinase, IL-8, CCL20, IL-12, AP1, CREB, RPA p32, and BCL2 related proteins. Methods for treating diseases using OspF phosphatase, methods for identifying agents that modulate OspF phosphatase's activity, methods for identifying agents that mimic OspF phosphatase's activity, and immunogenic compositions comprising OspF phosphatase are provided. A strain of Shigella flexneri containing an inactivated ospF gene is also provided.
US08092987B2	Mucosa tissue preserved with heating and hydrogen peroxide or phosphoric acid A process for hydrolyzing products with enzymatic activity remaining in peptone solutions after mucosa hydrolysis is provided along with a process for preserving mucosa tissue. Broadly, the processes are carried out by hydrolyzing mucosa tissue according to conventional heparin manufacturing processes wherein an excess quantity of proteolytic enzymes is used. The resulting peptone solution is then contacted with proteins or protein-containing materials in order to hydrolyze the proteins. In another embodiment, mucosa tissue is preserved by mixing it with a preserving agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and phosphoric acid. The product preserved by hydrogen peroxide is low in ash, stable for at least a week, and has a reduced odor.
US08092979B2	Resist polymer and resist composition The resist polymer of the present invention comprises a specific constitutional unit having a cyano group, a constitutional unit having an acid-dissociable group, and a specific constitutional unit having a lactone skeleton. When the above polymer is used as a resist resin in DUV excimer laser lithography or electron beam lithography, it exhibits high sensitivity and high resolution, and provides a good resist pattern shape, having a small degree of occurrence of line edge roughness or generation of microgels.
US08092978B2	Positive resist composition for electron beam, X-ray or EUV and pattern forming method using the same Provided is a positive resist composition for an electron beam, an X-ray or EUV, including: (A) a resin capable of decomposing by the action of an acid to increase the dissolution rate in an aqueous alkali solution; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, represented by the following formula (ZI) or (ZII); (C) a basic compound; and (D) an organic solvent, wherein a concentration of all solid contents in said composition is from 1.0 to 4.5 mass %, and a total amount of the compound represented by formula (ZI) or (ZII) is 12 mass % or more based on all solid contents in said composition: wherein symbols in the formulae are defined in the specification.
US08092975B2	Method for producing toner for devoloping electrostatic image Provided is a method for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image which inhibits the generation of small diameter microparticles as a by-product in the polymerization for the toner, which includes easy or simple washing treatment (washing/filtration/dehydration), and which is excellent in productivity.The method is a method for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image comprising a suspending step of suspending a polymerizable monomer composition containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a colorant into an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersion stabilizer to yield a suspension wherein droplets of the polymerizable monomer composition are dispersed, and a step of subjecting the suspension to suspension polymerization in the presence of a polymerization initiator to yield colored resin particles, wherein the colorant is a metal-containing organic pigment, and when the suspension polymerization is performed, the suspension contains 0.01 to 1 part by weight of an inhibitor of small diameter microparticle production for 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable monomer.
US08092974B2	Production method of toner for developing electrostatic image A production method of a toner includes a suspension process in which a polymerizable monomer composition is dispersed in an aqueous dispersion medium; and a polymerization process in which suspension polymerization is performed with the suspension in the presence of a polymerization initiator to obtain colored resin particles. In the suspension process an inhibitor of small diameter microparticle production is contained in the aqueous dispersion medium. A minimum reaction activation energy Emin of the inhibitor of small diameter microparticle production is 7 kcal/mol or less and an octanol-water partition coefficient log P is 2 or less. The minimum reaction activation energy Emin is a minimum value of a reaction activation energy “E” which is required when a phenylpropane radical represented by the following Formula 1 acts on the inhibitor of small diameter microparticle production:
US08092972B2	Toner compositions Toner particles are provided which may, in embodiments, include a core and a shell formed in situ. The resins utilized to form the core, the shell, or both, may be contacted with a water soluble initiator. The resin, in embodiments present in the shell, cross-links at a temperature near the temperature for coalescence, and may prevent a crystalline resin in the core from migrating to the toner surface.
US08092971B2	Resin-coated carrier for electrophotographic developer and process for producing the same, and electrophotographic developer comprising the resin-coated carrier An object of the present invention is to provide a resin-coated ferrite carrier comprising a carrier core material having a small particle size, a high sphericity and surface uniformity, and a low standard deviation, a process for producing the carrier, and an electrophotographic developer comprising the resin-coated ferrite carrier and having a high image quality and excellent durability. For achieving the above object, there is provided a resin-coated carrier for an electrophotographic developer characterized by comprising spherical ferrite particles having an average particle size of 20 to 50 μm, a surface uniformity of 90% or more, an average sphericity of 1 to 1.3 and a sphericity standard deviation of 0.15 or less, a process for producing the carrier, and an electrophotographic developer comprising the resin-coated carrier.
US08092970B2	Adjustable gloss document printing A method and system for printing adjustable gloss image documents using a variety of toners where some toners have a relatively low melt viscosity and others have a relatively high melt viscosity. These toners are co-printed prior to fixing, on the receiver proximate to and overlying at least a portion of each other.
US08092967B2	Developing agent The developing agent is selected to have a distribution of adhesive force to the surface of an image carrier, which is configured such that the ratio of the developing agent having an adhesive force which is not less than 2.5 times as high as an average value of a distribution of adhesive force is 3% by weight or less based on an entire weight of the developing agent.
US08092966B2	Toner particle having excellent charging characteristics, long term credibility and transferring property, method for producing the same and toner containing said toner particle The invention relates to toner particles having excellent charging characteristics and transferring properties, a method for producing the same and toner including the same. More particularly, the invention relates to toner particles, a method for producing the same and toner including the same, in which a CCA highly compatible with a binder resin is readily dispersed in the binder resin, thereby improving charge-maintaining property and charge distribution, and the resultant mixture is sphered to realize excellent long term credibility and transfer property. The toner particles include a styrene/acrylate-based CCA; a styrene/acrylate-based binder resin; and a polyester-based binder resin.
US08092959B2	Means for transferring a pattern to an object A template (10) having a first surface (13, 14), usable for transferring a pattern of the first surface to an object (20) having a second surface (23) covered by a light-sensitive coating (22), by contacting the patterned first surface with the coating, wherein the template comprises a carrier base (11) of e.g. nickel, and a waveguide (14) is disposed on the carrier base at the first surface. The waveguide is devised to lead light therein, introduced at a radiation input, and to leak evanescent waves to portions (24) of the coating corresponding to said pattern. The template may also be devised with an opaque shield (15), disposed at the first surface over selected portions of the waveguide, which serves to define where the evanescent waves can leak to the coating. The invention also relates to a method and an apparatus for using the template, and a method for manufacturing it.
US08092957B2	Diffusion media formed by photopolymer based processes A diffusion medium layer for a fuel cell, including an electrically conductive microtruss structure disposed between a pair of electrically conductive grids is provided. At least one of the microtruss structure and the grids is formed from a radiation-sensitive material. A fuel cell having the diffusion medium layer and a method for fabricating the diffusion medium layer is also provided.
US08092956B2	Fuel-cell connector A fuel-cell connector for releasable connection to a fuel cartridge has a cartridge-side connection element with a cartridge-side valve that opens or closes a fuel-supply opening. A connector-side valve opens and closes a fuel-receiving opening and moves, during the first insertion stage, with the cartridge-side valve and a resilient element for resisting movement in the insertion direction of a connector body unit into which the cartridge-side connection element is telescopically inserted. The connector body unit has on its outer periphery engagement means for engaging a cartridge-side connection element and a stationary mechanism part for attachment to the fuel-cell-using device. In the second insertion step, the connector body unit moves as a single unit with the cartridge-side connection element, while the fuel-receiving and fuel-supply openings are maintained in close proximity so the engagement means engages the cartridge-side connection element, whereby the fuel cartridge connects and is fixed in the connected position.
US08092952B2	Polymer blend electrolyte membrane for use at high temperature and manufacturing method thereof The present invention relates to a polymer blend electrolyte membrane comprising an inorganic polymer having polydimethylsiloxane as a main chain, which has a pore structure at both ends formed by condensation reaction between 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and tetraethylorthosilicate, wherein phosphoric acid is chemically linked to an amino group of the pore structure; and a proton-conducting polymer having a cation exchange group at the side chain thereof, as well as a manufacturing method thereof. Generally, proton-conducting electrolyte membranes have significantly reduced ion conductivity at high temperatures. However, proton-conducting electrolyte membranes have advantages in terms of efficiency and cost, and thus it is needed to develop an electrolyte membrane, which has excellent ion conductivity even at high temperature. Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a polymer blend electrolyte membrane for use at high temperature and a manufacturing method thereof.
US08092950B2	Tubular fuel cell module and the sealing device thereof The module comprises a reinforced sealing device at the outlet of stacked cells (10). It essentially comprises a distribution box (20), a collection box (30) and a concentric stack of elementary cells (10) intercalated with interconnectors (12). An upper seal (50) is placed at the outlet of the cells (10) into which penetrate the walls (38) of the collection box (30). Inner (44) and outer (45) ferrules form tanks at the outlet of the chambers and themselves open into cavities (37) formed by the walls (38). The invention applies to SOFC type fuel cells and SOEC type electrolysers.
US08092940B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode having a negative active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte; characterized in that said negative active material contains composite particle (C), which has silicon-containing particle (A) and electronic conductive additive (B), and carbon material (D), wherein the weight of said electronic conductive additive (B) falls within the range of 0.5 wt. % to 60 wt. % to the weight of said composite particle (C).The negative active material contains silicon which is capable of performing high discharge capacity, so that a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a large discharge capacity can be obtained. In addition, since the negative active material contains the electronic conductive additive (B) and the carbon material (D), the contact conductivity between the silicon-containing particle (A) or between the negative active material improves and, as a result, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having satisfactory cycle performance can be attained.
US08092938B2	Secondary battery and method of fabricating the same A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a can having an opening at one end of the can. The electrode assembly is housed in the can. A cap plate seals the opening. The cap plate includes an electrolyte injection hole. An electrode terminal is coupled to the cap plate electrical connecting the electrode terminal and the electrode assembly. A gasket is located between the electrode terminal and the cap plate to insulate the electrode terminal from the cap plate. A plug seals the electrolyte injection hole, the plug being coated with an elastic film.
US08092935B2	Reactive polymer-carrying porous film and process for producing the same A reactive polymer-supported porous film for a battery separator containing a substrate porous film of a porous film and a reactive polymer supported on the substrate porous film. The porous film has a temperature of 200° C. or more, at which a thickness of the porous film is reduced to ½ of a thickness when a probe is placed on the porous film. The reactive polymer is obtainable by partially crosslinking a crosslinkable polymer and a polyfunctional isocyanate. The crosslinkable polymer is obtainable by copolymerizing a crosslinkable monomer having in a molecule at least one reactive group selected from a 3-oxetanyl group and an epoxy group and a crosslinkable monomer having a reactive group capable of reacting with an isocyanate group.
US08092933B2	Portable terminal having battery cover The portable terminal includes a main body, a battery pack removably mounted to a back surface of the main body, and a battery cover mounted to the back surface of the main body. The battery cover is slidingly removable from the back surface of the main body and has a planar surface and an opening. When the battery cover is mounted to the main body, the battery cover receives the battery pack and a part of the main body is exposed through the opening.
US08092928B2	Reinforced ceramic refractory The disclosed invention relates to a reinforced ceramic refractory made from an as-batched composition comprising alumina; a rare earth oxide; an oxide of a transition metal comprising Sc, Zn, Ga, Y, Cd, In, Sn, Tl or a mixture of two or more thereof; and chopped ceramic fibers containing nanofibrils; the refractory exhibiting a modulus of rupture measured at 2500° F. (1371° C.) of at least about 2500 psi, as determined by the test method ASTM C583. A process for making the reinforced ceramic refractory is disclosed.
US08092927B2	Shielding, particulate reducing high vacuum components A method of forming a gate valve for use in a high vacuum environment of an electron gun by machining a core of non-magnetic nickel-chromium-molybdenum-iron-tungsten-silicon-carbon alloy that is weldable with nickel alloys and has a tensile strength of about 750 megapascals, machining a cladding of nickel-iron, welding the core to the cladding to form the gate valve, and machining the gate valve so as to remove any dimensional differences at an interface between the core and the cladding. In this manner, because the final mechanical tolerance is controlled by machining instead of part assembling, extremely high alignment accuracy is obtained. The final part provides field shielding as provided by the nickel alloy shell, low stray field provided by the non-magnetic alloy, good vacuum performance, and tight mechanical tolerance control. Also, because the alloy has the advantage of a low oxidation rate in comparison to stainless steel and titanium, there is less contamination buildup due to conditions such as electron beam bombardment.
US08092926B2	Organic light emitting diode device and method of manufacturing the same An organic light emitting diode device includes an organic layer formed of a hole transport material or a hole injection material having a photocurable group. Therefore, the organic light emitting diode device can be formed using a wet process that is simple and can be used for a large substrate. Furthermore, the organic layer and an organic light emitting layer are less affected by a solvent. Thus, the lifespan of the organic light emitting diode device is increased and there is more freedom in selecting materials for the organic layer and the organic light emitting layer. A method of manufacturing the organic light emitting diode device is also disclosed.
US08092922B2	Layered coating and method for forming the same A layered coating is disclosed herein. The layered coating includes a chromium layer, an intermediate layer of chromium and nitrogen established on the chromium layer, and an outer layer of chromium and nitrogen established on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has a gradually changing composition, wherein the chromium concentration decreases from an area of the intermediate layer adjacent the chromium layer towards a surface of the layered coating.
US08092920B2	High clarity, high stiffness films A multi-layer heat film having at least three layers is disclosed wherein the film has high optical properties, high stiffness and desirable shrinkage in the cross direction. The inner layer, or layers, comprises at least one stiffening polymer selected from the group consisting of: low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, blends thereof, polypropylene random copolymer, styrene/butadiene copolymer, polystyrene/butadiene copolymer, polystyrene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and cyclic-olefin copolymer, provided that when more than one inner layer is present, the inner layers can be the same or different. The skin layers, which may be the same or different, comprise at least one of: low density polyethylene; a blend of low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene; a blend of low density polyethylene and very low density polyethylene; polystyrene; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer; a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and linear low density polyethylene; cyclic-olefin copolymer; styrene-butadiene copolymer; or, polypropylene random copolymer, provided that the skin layers are devoid of a homogeneously branched polyethylene resin prepared with a single site catalyst. The inventive films have haze values of less than about 15%, a 2% secant modulus renter than about 50,000 psi and a cross directional shrinkage greater than 0%. The inventive films are made by a process that does not include post-extrusion bi-axial orientation.
US08092917B2	Gas-barrier laminate A gas-barrier laminate comprises a plastic substrate (A), an inorganic thin film (B) formed on at least one surface of the plastic substrate (A), and a polyester-based resin layer (C) formed by applying a coating material containing a polyester-based resin on a surface of the inorganic thin film (B), wherein the polyester-based resin has a glass transition temperature of 50 to 70° C., a molecular weight of 1500 to 15000 and a hydroxyl value of 10 to 60 mg KOH/g, and the gas-barrier laminate has an oxygen permeability of not more than 5 cc/m2/day/atm and a water vapor permeability of not more than 5 g/m2/day. The gas-barrier laminate of the present invention is excellent in printability (in particular, gradation printability), is free from deterioration in gas-barrier property, namely is excellent in gas-barrier property, even after providing a printed layer thereon, and further exhibits an excellent adhesion between the plastic substrate (A) and the inorganic thin film (B) even after being subjected to retort treatments.
US08092916B2	Steel wire rod An FeO layer including fine crystal grains having random orientation is formed as inner layer scale on the surface of the steel wire rod containing C: 0.05-1.2 mass % (hereinafter referred to as “%”), Si: 0.01-0.50%, Mn: 0.1-1.5%, P: 0.02% or below, S: 0.02% or below, N: 0.005% or below, an Fe2SiO4 layer with the thickness: 0.01-1.0 μm is formed in the boundary face between the FeO layer of the inner layer scale and steel, and the thickness of the inner layer scale is 1-40% of the total scale thickness. In another aspect, the maximum grain size of the crystal grain of the inner layer scale is 5.0 μm or below and the average grain size is 2.0 μm or below.
US08092914B2	Heat sink substrate and production method for the same A heat sink substrate has a composite structure including a three-dimensional network structure of SiC ceramic having pores infiltrated with Si, and has a thermal conductivity of not less than 150 W/m·K and an oxygen content of not greater than 7 ppm. The heat sink substrate is easily allowed to have an increased surface area. Further, the heat sink substrate has a higher thermal conductivity and a coefficient thermal expansion close to that of the SiC. Therefore, the heat sink substrate is superior in the efficiency of heat conduction from a semiconductor device. The heat sink substrate is produced by infiltrating a thermally melted Si into the pores of the three-dimensional network structure in a non-oxidative atmosphere in the presence of an oxygen absorber.
US08092909B2	Color foundation coat and color top coat paint system A paint system is provided that includes a foundation base component combined with a tinted, opaque top coat component and that hides any colors on all types of substrates and maintains the brightness and cleanness for all colors. The foundation base component is a tintable color base containing at least one organic synthetic pigment at an amount of at least twice as much as the amount of organic synthetic pigment in the top coat component. The tintable foundation base component has a volume ratio of organic pigments to inorganic pigments of at least about 0.5 and a volume ratio of organic pigment to polymer binder of at least about 0.1. The volume ratio of organic pigment to polymer binder in the top coat component is less than about 10.1 with at least about 80% by volume of pigments being synthetic organic pigments.
US08092907B2	Pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions, pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets and surface protecting films An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which is excellent in antistatic property of a non-electrification-prevented adherend (a subject to be protected) upon peeling, and has reduced stainability in an adherend and is excellent in adhesion reliance, and electrification preventing pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets and surface protecting films using the same. There is provided a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, which comprises a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a main component, a (meth)acryl-based monomer having an alkyl group of a carbon number of 6 to 14, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition contains an ethylene oxide group-containing compound and an alkali metal salt, and the alkali metal salt is contained at an amount of less than 1 part by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the (meth)acryl-based polymer.
US08092900B2	Solution, component for plating, insulating sheet, laminate, and printed circuit board It is an object of the present invention to provide a component for plating suitably used in, for example, producing a printed circuit board, a solution, and a printed circuit board including the component, the component for plating having satisfactory adhesion to an electroless plating film provided on a surface of the component even when the surface roughness of the surface of the component is small. The object is achieved by a component for electroless plating including at least a surface a for electroless plating, the surface a having a surface roughness of 0.5 μm or less in terms of arithmetic average roughness measured with a cutoff value of 0.002 mm, and the surface a containing a polyimide resin having a siloxane structure.
US08092897B2	Layered product, electromagnetic-shielding molded object, and processes for producing these A layered product which is a molded object comprising a thermoset resin layer, a thermoplastic resin layer, and reinforcing fibers comprising many continuous filaments, wherein the thermoset resin layer has been united with the thermoplastic resin layer at the interface between these layers, the resin of the thermoset resin layer and the resin of the thermoplastic resin layer each having an irregular surface shape at the interface, and a group of filaments among the reinforcing fibers are in contact with at least the resin of the thermoset resin layer and the other group of filaments among the reinforcing fibers are in contact with at least the resin of the thermoplastic resin layer, that side of the thermoplastic resin layer which is opposite to the interface being a surface of the molded object.
US08092890B2	Optical information recording medium, method of recording information, and azo metal complex dye The optical information recording medium comprises a recording layer on a surface of a support. The surface of the support has pregrooves with a track pitch ranging from 50 to 500 nm, the recording layer comprises an azo metal complex dye, the azo metal complex dye is a complex of one or more azo dye and transition metal ions of which number is equal to or greater than the number of the azo dye. The azo metal complex dye comprises two or more transition metal ions per molecule, and in a molecule of the azo metal complex dye.
US08092889B2	Silver alloy reflective film for optical information storage media, optical information storage medium, and sputtering target for the deposition of silver alloy reflective film for optical information storage media A silver alloy reflective film for optical information storage media, which can maintain superior environmental resistance, such as high hygrothermal resistance and high light stability, over the long term even when the metal reflective film is in direct contact with a resin layer. An optical information storage medium includes the reflective film and a sputtering target deposits the reflective film. The silver alloy reflective film includes one or more specific elements selected from Pr, Ho, Yb, Sm, Er, Tm, and Tb, to suppress deterioration occurring when the silver alloy reflective film is in direct contact with a resin layer, where silver in the reflective film migrates and aggregates into the adjacent resin layer.
US08092888B2	Noise reduction layer for optical data storage media An optical data storage disk including a substrate, a nanocrystalline noise reduction layer formed over the substrate, a reflector formed directly on the noise reduction layer and a cover layer formed over the reflector layer. An optical source detects data from the disk through the cover layer. In some embodiments, the reflector layer forms part of a multilayer recording stack and the cover layer is formed over the multilayer recording stack. In some embodiments, the noise reduction layer includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ti alloys, Ti oxides, Cr, Cr alloys and Cr oxides. Additionally, a method of forming an optical data storage disk that includes a nanocrystalline noise reduction layer.
US08092887B2	Super-resolution optical recording medium The invention relates to the field of optical information recording. According to the invention, an optical storage structure is proposed comprising a substrate equipped with physical marks whose geometrical configuration defines the recorded information, a superposition of three layers on top of the substrate marks, and a transparent protective layer on top of this superposition, the superposition comprising a layer of indium or gallium antimonide inserted between two ZnS/SiO2 dielectric layers. The antimonide layer has a polycrystalline structure with an average crystal grain size between 5 and 50 nanometers. The non-linear behavior of the superposition of three layers under the read laser makes it possible to read information having a size below the theoretical resolution of the reading system.
US08092886B2	Integrated forms and method of making such forms A form that incorporates card such that the form can be reliably printed on by the end user and manufactured less expensively. The form includes a printable substrate. Weakened lines of the substrate define an integrated removable portion capable of being held in the form and easily removed manually when desired. In the integrated card form, a recess may be provided adjacent the removable portion to facilitate removal of the removable portion.
US08092884B2	Single layer fuel tank A single layer fuel tank includes a polyamide component, an impact modifier, and a binding filler. The polyamide component has a polyamide selected from the group of polyamide 6, polyamide 6/6, polyamide 6/66, and combinations thereof. The polyamide component also includes up to 5 parts by weight of polyamide oligomers per 100 parts by weight of the polyamide component. The impact modifier is an organic copolymer and is present in an amount of up to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the fuel tank. The binding filler is not covalently bonded to the polyamide and includes at least one of a silica and a cyclodextrin. In addition, the binding filler is present in an amount of up to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the fuel tank.
US08092881B2	Multi-layered fuel tubing The invention describes a flexible tubular article for transport of volatile hydrocarbons comprising: (a) an inner layer of a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) polymer or a polyvinylidene difluoride copolymer; (b) an intermediate thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer extruded in tubular form over the inner PVDF layer, and (c) a polyvinyl chloride polymer extruded in tubular form over the outside surface of the intermediate layer and being coextensive therewith. The tubular articles of the invention have a maximum permeation rating of 15 g/m2/day under SAE J1737 test conditions.
US08092879B2	Fuel system having excellent gasoline barrier property Provided is a fuel system comprising a fuel vessel, molded parts for a fuel and/or a tube for a fuel in which bodies are constituted from at least one of a thermoplastic resin and a synthetic rubber, wherein a coating layer is formed on the surfaces in at least one side of the insides and the outsides of the fuel vessel body, the molded part bodies for a fuel and/or the tube body for a fuel or at least one of connected parts in these bodies; the above coating layer is formed by curing a polyurethane resin composition comprising an active hydrogen-containing compound (A) and an organic polyisocyanate compound (B); and the above coating layer has a gasoline permeability coefficient of 2 g·mm/m2·day or less at 23° C. and a relative humidity of 60% RH. The above coating layer is excellent in a permeation-preventing performance against an automobile fuel (gasoline barrier property), an adhesion property between fuel vessel body and molding parts or tube, a heat resistance and an impact resistance, a flexibility, a bending resistance, etc., then a fuel vessel, molded parts for a fuel and a tube for a fuel which have excellent performances are obtained.
US08092876B2	Coating compositions for cans and methods of coating A coating composition for a food or beverage can that includes an emulsion polymerized latex polymer formed by combining an ethylenically unsaturated monomer component with an aqueous dispersion of a water-dispersible polymer.
US08092874B2	Inkjet media system with improved image quality An inkjet printing system, comprises: a printer, a pigment ink composition, and a dry recording media supply for receiving ink, the media comprising a support bearing an ink-receiving layer containing a complex of a polyvalent metal cation and a ligand, wherein the complex has a stability constant, K1, in the range of 0.3 to 6.0. The system gives images with excellent gloss, coalesence, and image quality.
US08092869B2	Ink composition for ink jet recording and method for ink jet recording There is provided an ink composition for ink jet recording, including (A) N-vinyllactam, (B) a compound having a partial structure represented by the following formula (I) and a polymerizable unsaturated bond, and (C) a radical polymerization initiator. In formula (I), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R2 to R5 each independently represent a methyl group or an ethyl group.
US08092868B2	Die coating apparatus, die coating method, and adhesive sheet and foamed sheet The present invention provides a die coating apparatus, which includes a die including an upstream-side bar and a downstream side-bar aligned with each other along a direction of transportation of a band-shaped support continuously transported by a backup roll so as to form a pocket for storing a coating solution and a slit serving as a feed-out path of the coating solution, the slit having an outlet for feeding out the coating solution stored in the pocket of the die therefrom to thereby coat the coating solution on the band-shaped support, in which the downstream-side bar has a lip having a divergent cross-sectional shape continuous in the direction of a width of the downstream-side bar, and an inclination angle θ of a side end part on the most downstream side of the lip of the downstream-side bar is within the range of 20° to 80°.
US08092864B2	Mandrel and method for coating open-cell implantable endovascular structures Methods of coating a medical device are provided to improve coating uniformity and reduce coating irregularities while reducing direct coating of the luminal surface of the medical device. Preferably, methods of coating a tubular medical device include the steps of: positioning the tubular medical device around a mandrel coating assembly, mounting the tubular medical device on the mandrel coating assembly and spraying a coating solution including a therapeutic agent and a solvent onto the abluminal surface of the tubular medical device mounted on the mandrel coating assembly. The mandrel coating assembly may include an axial member of a diameter that is less than the diameter of the lumen of the tubular medical device and at least one annular projection extending from the axial member to an outer surface having a diameter greater than or substantially equal to the diameter of the lumen of the medical device. Improved coating uniformity may be achieved by providing an annular space between the luminal surface of the medical device and an axial member. Coating on the luminal surface may be minimized by providing an axial member having an outer diameter that is greater than the maximum width or length of the spray contacting the axial member after passing through the openings in the medical device.
US08092859B2	Synthesis of highly luminescent colloidal particles The present invention includes compositions and methods for their used wherein the compositions include clusters of coated fluorescent nanocrystals having a select size formed by controlled aggregation of individual coated nanocrystals.
US08092853B2	Gel based livestock feed, method of manufacture and use A method of making a gel-type livestock feed includes initially forming a feed mixture by mixing feed nutrient components, water, alginate, and a calcium component insoluble in water or a sequestrate to inhibit the calcium component from reacting with the alginate. Once the feed mixture is formed, the calcium component is solubilized or the sequestrates affecting the reactivity between the alginate and the calcium component is removed such that a gel feed is formed that includes a gel matrix containing the feed nutrient components. The gel feed may then be fed to the livestock. In another aspect of the present invention, piglets are weaned by feeding the gel feed for at least seven days directly after weaning. The gel feed may also include protein derived from blood with or without egg protein.
US08092852B2	Systems and methods for producing reduced cholesterol dairy products A reduced cholesterol cream, as compared to a conventionally prepared cream, is produced by pressurizing and shearing whole milk prior to separation of the whole milk into skim milk and cream. The skim milk is increased in cholesterol content and the cream is reduced in cholesterol content.
US08092851B2	Composition and process for cleaning and disinfecting food products A composition and process for improving the quality of raw food product such as seafood, meat and fowl including a treatment of a bath, rinse, ice blend, steam or spray for preparing the raw food product, such as fresh fish, meat or poultry or produce. Before the treatment is used, the raw product is cleaned in a conventional manner. The treatment composition is intended to clean, deodorize, and disinfect the raw food product. The present invention removes slime and odor from fresh fish in preparation for cooking, and further, disinfects the fish and other food product to be cooked in the event that harmful bacteria or other microbes reside on the raw fish, such as harmful microorganisms which may be a residue of polluted water from which the fish was taken, or may have originated from filthy food preparation facilities.
US08092850B2	Meat treatment apparatus and method An offset barbeque smoker grille has an openable cover shaped as the elongated back portion of a quadruped and the products of combustion are applied to meat on said grille with the cover closed and at least one restrictor is included in said fourth flow path to hold smoke in contact with said meat wherein a meat treatment apparatus is used as a smoker. The cooking and smoking uses counter flow from the firebox near the head of the quadruped under the cooking and smoking chambers toward the rump of the quadruped and back over the top of the cooking chambers to provide even cooking.
US08092840B2	Dietary supplement and a method to enhance sleep and lucid dreaming A nutritional supplement for enhancing sleep and lucid dreaming in humans. It contains a combination of ingredients in proportions calculated to enhance lucid dreaming. The primary ingredients are Calea ternifolia, L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP), and Vinpocetine. In addition, the nutritional supplement may include the secondary ingredient Melatonin and the tertiary ingredients Wild Lettuce Extract, Mugwort Extract, Dimethylaminoethanol Powder (DMAE), Passionflower Extract and Green Tea Extract. Further, various Vitamins may be added such as certain B vitamins, D and C, as well as Zinc, Magnesium and Calcium. The selection and amounts of the ingredients of the nutritional supplement promotes sleep and lucid dreaming in people who have taken the nutritional supplement prior to going to sleep.
US08092836B2	Production of nanocapsules and microcapsules by layer-wise polyelectrolyte self-assembly The invention relates to capsules coated with a polyelectrolyte shell and methods for the production thereof.
US08092831B2	Antihistamine and decongestant system The present invention relates to an oral pharmaceutical formulation that employs: (1) a compressed core containing a decongestant or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; (2) a delayed release coating on the compressed core and (3) immediate release therapeutic amounts of a decongestant and an antihistamine.
US08092829B2	Use of R-arylpropionic acids for treating illnesses with a rheumatic nature The invention relates to the use of R-enantiomers of arylpropionic acids or the pharmacologically acceptable salts or derivatives thereof, in a pure or enriched form in contrast to the racemic compound, for the production of medicaments which inhibit the activation of nuclear transcription factor AP-1 and which are suitable for treating illnesses which are influenced by said factor.
US08092828B2	Fixed drug ratios for treatment of hematopoietic cancers and proliferative disorders Provided herein are methods for treating cancer by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fixed, non-antagonistic molar ratio of cytarabine and an anthracycline. Such methods are particularly useful in the treatment of patients with advanced hematologic cancers or proliferative disorders.
US08092822B2	Coatings including dexamethasone derivatives and analogs and olimus drugs The present invention encompasses a coating on the surface of a substrate and the coated substrates. The coating includes a polymer, an olimus drug (sirolimus, everolimus, zotarolimus, etc.), and a dexamethasone derivative. The polymer may be a hydrophobic polymer, preferably a fluoropolymer, and more preferably a fluoropolymer with at least 25% vinylidene fluoride by weight.
US08092821B2	Medical devices having polymeric regions with improved adhesion According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain at least one polymeric region in contact with a metallic region. The polymeric region contains at least one block copolymer that contains at least one low Tg block and at least one high Tg block. The polymeric region contains at least one polymer that contains at least one adhesion promoting group selected from one or more of halo-silane, alkoxy-silane, epoxy, anhydride, phenoxy, hydroxyl, amino, sulfonate and carboxyl groups, which at least one polymer may correspond to the block copolymer, a supplemental polymer, or both.
US08092820B2	Dry hemostatic compositions and methods for their preparation Dry cross-linked gelatin compositions are prepared that rapidly re-hydrate to produce gelatin hydrogels suitable as hemostatic sealants. Gelatin is cross-linked in the presence of certain re-hydration aids, such as polyethylene glycol, polyvinylprovidone, and dextran, in order to produce a dry cross-linked gelatin powder. The use of the re-hydration aids has been found to substantially increase the re-hydration rate in the presence of an aqueous re-hydration medium, typically thrombin-containing saline.
US08092818B2	Medical devices having bioactive surfaces According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided, which contain (a) a substrate and (b) a polymeric region disposed over the substrate which contains at least one block copolymer. The block copolymer, in turn, contains at least two polymer blocks which phase separate into two or more immiscible phase domains within the polymeric region. Moreover, a bioactive species is covalently attached to at least one of the polymer blocks. By attaching the bioactive species selectively to at least one polymer block, self-assembled clusters of the bioactive species are created as the blocks phase separate into immiscible phase domains.
US08092817B2	Biorational insecticide and fungicide and method of application A biorational insecticide and fungicide and method of application on trees and plants, fruits and vegetables to enhance the growth thereof and to effectively control insects and fungi comprising at least one surfactant and at least one high terpene containing natural oil.
US08092810B2	Use of polypeptides having antimicrobial activity The present invention relates to the use of polypeptides related to a Bacillus licheniformis polypeptide (amino acids 1-85 of SEQ ID NO: 2) as antimicrobial agents, for example in pharmaceutical applications, including veterinary applications, as well as for preservation, cleaning and disinfection of various surfaces, objects and substances. The polypeptides may in particular be used to treat textiles or laundry, e.g., in detergents, for reducing microbes on textile or laundry, and/or for odor reduction. The invention also relates to use of Bacillus strains producing these polypeptides as antimicrobial agents. Examples of microorganism inhibited by Lento are Gram positive bacterial strains, such as Bacillus cereus, and various species of Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Micrococcus, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus.
US08092809B2	Pseudomonas exotoxin A-like chimeric immunogens This invention provides Pseudomonas exotoxin A-like chimeric immunogens that include a non-native epitope in the Ib domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin. Methods of eliciting an immune response using these immunogens also are provided.
US08092806B2	Chimeric proteins, their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them The present invention relates to a chimeric protein comprising a cell-targeting agent and a Yersinia outer protein, connected by a translocating polypeptide. The invention further relates to the preparation and use of such chimeric protein.
US08092804B2	Binding members for interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα)-173 Binding members, especially antibody molecules, for interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα), and their therapeutic use e.g. in treating or preventing disorders associated with IL-4Rα, IL-4 and/or IL-13, examples of which are asthma and COPD.
US08092803B2	VEGF antagonist formulations for intravitreal administration Ophthalmic formulations of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-specific fusion protein antagonist are provided suitable for intravitreal administration to the eye. The ophthalmic formulations include a stable liquid formulation and a lyophilizable formulation. Preferably, the protein antagonist has the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4.
US08092799B2	Antibodies to Apo-2 receptor polypeptides Novel polypeptides, designated Apo-2, which are capable of modulating apoptosis are provided. Compositions including Apo-2 chimeras, nucleic acid encoding Apo-2, and antibodies to Apo-2 are also provided.
US08092797B2	Anti-VEGF antibodies Anti-VEGF antibodies and variants thereof, including those having high affinity for binding to VEGF, are disclosed. Also provided are methods of using phage display technology with naïve libraries to generate and select the anti-VEGF antibodies with desired binding and other biological activities. Further contemplated are uses of the antibodies in research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US08092796B2	Monoclonal antibodies against ANGPTL4 Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to ANGPTL4 are provided. Monoclonal antibodies that neutralize at least one activity of ANGPTL4 are provided. Methods of treating a disorder of lipid metabolism using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are provided.
US08092795B2	Liquid seasoning The present invention provides a liquid seasoning, which brings on a sufficient salty taste although it has a low common salt concentration, and which exhibits for example a pharmacological effect such as an antihypertensive effect at a high level. The present invention relates to a liquid seasoning, which contains the following components (A) to (C):(A) 3.55% or less by weight of sodium;(B) 0.5% to 4.2% by weight of potassium; and(C) 0.1% to 10% by weight of a food material having an antihypertensive effect,wherein the remaining portion of the liquid seasoning excluding component (C) is adapted by incorporation of a substance other than component (C) to have a nitrogen content (D) of 1.6% or more based on the total weight of the liquid seasoning.
US08092794B2	Pharmaceutical compositions comprising SODs and prolamine based peptide fragments The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions adapted for pharmaceutical administration comprising at least one superoxide dismutase and at least one prolamine based peptide fragment. The invention also relates to certain superoxide dismutases and prolamine based peptide fragments.
US08092789B1	Indian meal moth attractant A composition containing undecane, hexanal, 1-pentanol, decane, and 2-pentylfuran is an effective attractant for adult female Indian meal moths (Plodia interpunctella). The composition may be used alone or with a carrier component. The composition may be used in combination with any insect trapping means known in the art, as required for a specific application.
US08092787B2	Personal product compositions comprising structured benefit agent premix or delivery vehicle and providing enhanced effect of optical modifier separate from structured benefit agent The present invention relates to compositions comprising a structured benefit agent pre-mix or delivery vehicle comprising benefit agent structured with crystalline materials, as defined, which when separately prepared and combined after preparation, provides enhanced delivery of optical modifier carried on, trapped within or in the presence of the structured benefit agent.
US08092786B2	Dry nail polish applique and method of manufacturing same A method of manufacturing a decorative appliqué and the appliqué itself are disclosed. At least two formulations of high viscosity decorative liquid such as liquid nail enamel are provided and heated. A layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material is applied onto a substrate, and a layer of the formulations are applied adjacent each other atop the layer of adhesive material on the substrate. The two formulations are preferably of different colors and are preferably confined to separate portions of the appliqué. In one fingernail-shaped embodiment, a small crescent-shaped section contains one formulation, and the remainder contains another formulation. A score or perforation is made between the two sections to facilitate application as a “French manicure”. Double-ended of such appliqués are preferably provided with side handling tabs to facilitate handling of the appliqués and enable use of both ends of the same appliqué.
US08092785B2	Process for milling poorly soluble drugs in presence of liquid propellants Drug substance for use in a pharmaceutical formulation may be prepared by a process which process comprises co-milling a suspension of the drug substance and a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer in a liquid propellant.
US08092778B2	Method for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel and carbon nanotubes using microwave assisted methane decomposition on catalyst A method for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel and carbon nanotubes includes the steps of providing a flow of methane gas, and providing a catalyst mixture comprising a Fe based catalyst and carbon. The method also includes the steps of pretreating the catalyst mixture using microwave irradiation and exposure to CH4, heating the catalyst mixture and the methane gas using microwave irradiation at a selected microwave power, directing the flow of methane gas over the catalyst mixture, and controlling the microwave power to produce a product gas having a selected composition and the carbon nanotubes. For producing multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) only a flow of methane gas into the reactor is required. For producing single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), a combination of hydrogen gas and methane gas into the reactor is required.
US08092775B2	Continuous method for purifying carbon nanotube Provided is a continuous method and apparatus for purifying carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotube is fed together with solvent into a preheater via a heat exchanger to produce a carbon nanotube mixture. The carbon nanotube mixture is preheated at 100 to 370° C. Then, the carbon nanotube mixture is purified in a purifying reactor under a subcritical water condition of 50 to 400 atm. The resulting purified product is cooled down to 0 to 100° C. and depressurized into 1 to 10 atm by feeding the purified product into a cooling down and depressurizing part via the heat exchanger. Finally, the cooled and depressurized product is recovered.
US08092774B2	Nanotube-amino acids and methods for preparing same The present invention is directed toward compositions comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that are sidewall-functionalized with amino acid groups, and to amino acid compositions comprising carbon nanotubes. The present invention is also directed to simple and relatively inexpensive methods for the preparation of such compositions. Such compositions are expected to greatly extend the bio-medical applications of CNTs.
US08092771B2	Nitrogen-containing carbon material and process for producing the same The present invention provides a process for producing a nitrogen-containing carbon material, comprising a first step of subjecting azulmic acid to a first heat treatment in an oxygen-containing gas atmosphere, thereby preparing a heat-treated product, and a second step of subjecting the heat-treated product to a second heat treatment in an inert gas atmosphere.
US08092768B2	Advanced particulate matter control apparatus and methods Apparatus and methods for collection and removal of particulate matter, including fine particulate matter, from a gas stream, comprising a unique combination of high collection efficiency and ultralow pressure drop across the filter. The apparatus and method utilize simultaneous electrostatic precipitation and membrane filtration of a particular pore size, wherein electrostatic collection and filtration occur on the same surface.
US08092762B2	Multi-capillary electrophoresis cartridge interface mechanism The present invention provides for an interface mechanism in a bio-separation instrument that makes interface connections to a multi-channel cartridge. The interface mechanism precisely positions the cartridge in relation to the support elements in the instrument (e.g., high-voltage, gas pressure, incident radiation and detector), and makes automated, reliable and secured alignments and connections between various components in the cartridge and the support elements in the supporting instrument. The interface mechanism comprises pneumatically or electromechanically driven actuators for engaging support elements in the instrument to components on the cartridge. After the cartridge has been securely received by the interface mechanism, the connection sequence is initiated. The interface provides separate high voltage and optical connections for each separation channel in the cartridge, thus providing channel-to-channel isolation from cross talk both electrically and optically.
US08092761B2	Mechanically-actuated microfluidic diaphragm valve A microfluidic diaphragm valve. The valve comprises: an inlet port; an outlet port; a weir positioned between the inlet and outlet ports, the weir having a sealing surface; a diaphragm membrane for sealing engagement with the sealing surface; and a thermal bend actuator for moving the diaphragm membrane between a closed position in which the membrane is sealingly engaged with the sealing surface and an open position in which the membrane is disengaged from said sealing surface.
US08092760B2	Scanning arm for semiconductor wafer pollutant measurement apparatus and scanning device using the same Provided is a scanning arm which moves to collect pollutants on the surface of a semiconductor wafer, for use in a semiconductor wafer pollutant measurement apparatus, and a scanning device using the same. The scanning arm includes: an X-axis portion; a Z-axis portion which is perpendicularly installed with the X-axis portion so as to move forward and backward along the X-axis portion; and a Y-axis portion which is perpendicularly installed with the Z-axis portion so as to move up and down with respect to the Z-axis portion.
US08092759B2	Compliant microfluidic sample processing device Microfluidic sample processing disks with a plurality of fluid structures formed therein are disclosed. Each of the fluid structures preferably includes an input well and one or more process chambers connected to the input well by one or more delivery channels. The process chambers may be arranged in a compliant annular processing ring that is adapted to conform to the shape of an underlying thermal transfer surface under pressure. That compliance may be delivered in the disks of the present invention by locating the process chambers in an annular processing ring in which a majority of the volume is occupied by the process chambers. Compliance within the annular processing ring may alternatively be provided by a composite structure within the annular processing ring that includes covers attached to a body using pressure sensitive adhesive.
US08092757B2	Method for sterilizing preforms and installation for producing sterile bodies from these preforms A sterilization method and an installation for producing sterile bottles by blow molding sterilized preforms includes, at the spraying station, the flow of sterilizing product atomized onto each preform whose temperature (T1) is less than the condensing temperature (Tc) of the sterilizing product so that a film of mist of the sterilizing product deposits by condensation at least onto the inner wall to be sterilized, and, at the activation station of the sterilizing product of the sterilizing unit, each preform treated in the aforementioned manner is heated by radiation to a temperature (T2) greater than or equal to the activation temperature (Ta) in order to sterilize at least the inner wall of the preform.
US08092751B2	Ultraviolet and/or ozone-generating disinfection device The ultraviolet and/or ozone-generation disinfection cutlery tray allows to improve the hygiene of the different cutlery items placed in it, by use of at least one ultraviolet light and/or ozone-generating source that irradiates the cutlery through the material itself making up the cutlery tray, made of a light-conductive plastic material, obtaining an homogeneous radiation, allowing objects that had been previously washed in a conventional way to maintain and conserve asepsis until the moment of use. Versions are contemplated for holding cutlery in vertical position, simultaneously allowing their drainage after washing and hygienization; and others in which the emission of ultraviolet light is located on the surface of the material making up the cutlery tray. The disinfection device is suitable for use for the domestic sector, catering industry, as well as the clinical sector.
US08092743B2	Device for handling laboratory samples A device for handling of laboratory samples includes at least one gripper movable from above over a sample. The gripper includes multiple fingers arranged around an axis, an elastic finger mount, and an actuator mechanism structured and arranged to move the fingers to selectively grip or release the sample. The multiple fingers are elastically held by the elastic finger mount in a radially displaceable manner.
US08092740B2	Method of manufacturing a porous material A porous material is provided, including a connected structure formed by combining silicon carbide aggregate particles with cordierite, which is a combining material in a state to hold a large number of pores, and having a porosity of 52 to 70% and a median pore diameter of 15 to 30 μm. The porous material has a high porosity and a high strength and has a remarkably low possibility of including defective portions, such as cuts and the like which cause liquid leakage when the material is used as a filter.
US08092738B2	Method for molding an integral joint A method is provided for molding an integral joint including a stationary member and an enclosure rotatable about the stationary member. The method utilizes a joint formation assembly defining an inner cavity, a first passageway connected to the inner cavity, an outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity, and a second passageway connected to the outer cavity. The method includes the steps of: introducing moldable material into the inner cavity from the first passageway to form the stationary member; introducing moldable material into the outer cavity from the second passageway to form the enclosure; and divorcing the inner cavity from the outer cavity for separately and independently forming the enclosure around the stationary member to allow rotatable movement of the enclosure about the stationary member.
US08092736B2	Fluorotelomer/silane compositions A composition and its use as a mold release composition are disclosed. The composition comprises a fluorotelomer, which comprises repeat units derived from a fluoroalkene, and optionally a comonomer, and has an endgroup derived from an alcohol, an alcohol derivative, or a combination thereof, and said fluorotelomer has or comprises a structure depicted as H(CX2)pBqDr or a mixture of structures depicted as H(CX2)pBq and H(CX2)pDr, wherein each X is independently H or F, provided at least one X is F, p is a number from about 16 to about 1500, B represents a unit derived from a hydrofluorocarbon, q is a number from 0.02 to 0.4, D represents an endgroup derived from said alcohol, alcohol derivative, or combination thereof, and r is a number 0.2 to 1.0. The composition comprises a silane having the formula R1n—Si—(Z)4-n wherein Z is OR2, Cl, or H, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical having 1-34 carbon atoms, and combinations of two or more thereof, R2 is selected from the group consisting hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical having 1-4 carbon atoms, and combinations of two or more thereof, provided that R1 and R2 both cannot be hydrogen, and n is a number from 1 to 3. The composition may further comprise a solvent and/or a catalyst.
US08092734B2	Covers for microelectronic imagers and methods for wafer-level packaging of microelectronics imagers Methods for forming and attaching covers to microelectronic imaging units, packaging microelectronic imagers at the wafer level, and microelectronic imagers having covers that protect the image sensor are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a first substrate having a plurality of covers, the covers including windows comprising regions of the first substrate and stand-offs projecting from the windows. The method continues by providing a second substrate having a plurality of microelectronic dies with image sensors, integrated circuits electrically coupled to the image sensors, and terminals electrically coupled to the integrated circuits. The method includes assembling the covers with corresponding dies so that the windows are aligned with corresponding image sensors and stand-offs contact corresponding dies inboard of the terminals and outboard of the image sensors. The first substrate is then cut to singulate the individual covers, after which the second substrate is cut to singulate individual imaging units.
US08092731B2	Method for producing a thermoplastic plastic film, film and use thereof The invention relates to a method for producing a thermoplastic plastic film. According to said method, the thermoplastic plastic is melted and transported in an extrusion installation comprising an extruder, an extrusion nozzle with a wide-slot delivery opening and a chill roll, which is fixed to a roll system and then leaves the delivery opening of the extrusion nozzle in the form of a flat melted web. Said melted web is then applied to the chill roll and is cooled. The invention is characterised in that it uses an extrusion installation, in which the distance between the delivery opening of the extrusion nozzle and the surface of the cooled roll does not vary by more than +/−50 μm during the operating time. The invention also relates to a film of this type and to uses of the latter.
US08092729B2	Insulation for a steam carrying apparatus and method of attachment thereof A steam dispersion system including insulation is disclosed. The steam dispersion system may include a steam dispersion tube with at least one opening defined on an outer surface of the steam dispersion tube and a hollow interior. The insulation covers at least a portion of the steam dispersion tube, the insulation defining an opening aligned with the opening of the steam dispersion tube, wherein the insulation meets 25/50 flame/smoke indexes for UL723/ASTM E-84 and has a thermal conductivity less than about 0.35 Watts/m-K (2.4 in-hr/ft^2 deg F.). A nozzle defining a throughhole may be placed within the opening of the steam dispersion tube, the throughhole being in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the steam dispersion tube to provide a steam exit.
US08092724B2	Method for making contact lenses The instant invention pertains to a method and a fluid composition for producing contact lenses with improved lens quality and with increased product yield. The method of the invention involves adding a phospholipid into a fluid composition including a lens-forming material in an amount sufficient to reduce an averaged mold separation force by at least about 40% in comparison with that without the phospholipids.
US08092718B2	Semiconductive seamless belt The present invention provides a semiconductive seamless belt, which is obtained from a polyamide acid solution containing a tertiary amine having a boiling point of 200° C. or higher and an acid dissociation constant pKa of 4 to 9.
US08092716B2	Process for the preparation of a catalytic specie using electro-deposition Process for the preparation of a catalytic specie consisting essentially of a metallic support, which is coated with a ceramic active phase layer, mainly compound of the general formula (I): [RhxNiyMglAlm(OH)2]z+(An−z/n)kH2O, (I) wherein An− is mainly a silicate or a polysilicate anion; 0≦x≦0.3; 0≦y≦0.9; 0≦l≦0.9; 0≦m≦0.5; 0≦k≦10; x+y>0; 0.5≦y+l≦0.9; x+y+l+m=1; and z is the total electrical charge of the cationic element or a compound of the general formula (II): [AzA′1-z][B1-x-yNixRhy]O3-δ (II) wherein A and A′ are different and are selected from the Lanthanide or the Actinide families or from the group IIa of the Mendeleev's periodical table of elements; B is selected from the transition metal groups of columns IIIb, IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIb, Ib and IIb and group VIIIb of the Mendeleev's periodical table of elements; 0≦x≦0.7, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦x+y≦0.8, 0≦z≦1 and is the sub stoechiometric value of oxygen to obtain the electric neutrality of the Perovskite compound; said process essentially consisting in a step (a) of electro-deposition of said ceramic active phase on said metallic support. Use of said catalytic specie as a catalyst oxidation of gaseous hydrocarbons, to produce synthesis gas.
US08092713B2	Method for marking a material and resulting marked material The invention concerns a method for marking a material characterized in that it consists in incorporating into the material: either a phosphor capable of producing, following excitation, two light emissions whereof the respective wavelengths and the emission decay times are different, or several phosphors capable of producing, following excitation, a light emission whereof the wavelength and the emission decay time are different from the wavelength and emission decay time of the other or other phosphors. The material can in particular be of the paper, board, paint, textile, ink, glass or macromolecular material type.
US08092712B2	Bent-core LC decorated gold nanoclusters Novel thiol-terminated bent-core liquid crystals (LCs) are used to decorate gold nanoparticles. Thioacetate or xanthate/xanthogenate functional groups are used to effect the attachment of the LCs to the gold nanoparticles. Such bent-core decorated nanoparticles may be dissolved in bent-core liquid crystal host media to provide polarizable systems which respond quickly to applied electric fields and exhibit other interesting and useful optical and electro-optic behaviour.
US08092709B2	Stabilizers for the stabilization of unsaturated hydrocarbon-based precursor A stabilized composition consists essentially of unsaturated hydrocarbon-based materials, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a hydroxybenzophenone and a nitroxyl radical based stabilizer. A method for stabilizing unsaturated hydrocarbon-based precursor material against the polymerization comprises providing a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a hydroxybenzophenone and a nitroxyl radical based stabilizer.
US08092706B2	Piezoelectric ceramic composition Disclosed is a piezoelectric ceramic composition which is produced by adding two or more metal elements and has excellent piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric composition comprises the main ingredient represented by the general formula: [Lix(K1-yNay)1-x](Nb1-z-wTaZSbw)O3 (0≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦0.4, 0
US08092705B2	Simple method for introducing magnetic particles into a polymer The present invention provides a simple method for introducing magnetic particles into a polymer for further preparing a magnetic polymer, the method using the capability of polymer to absorb Fe3+ and other divalent metal ions M2+, adding alkali immediately each time after absorbing Fe3+ or M2+, thereby generating hydrated oxide of the Fe3+ and hydrated oxide of the divalent metal ions in sequence inside the polymer, and then heating, so that the hydrated oxide of the Fe3+ and the hydrated oxide of the divalent metal ions are transformed into magnetic particles MFexOy, where M may be Fe2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+ and the like, and x=1.0˜2.0; y=3.0˜4.0. Compared with the prior art method, the present one is simpler, wider in application, and more operable.
US08092701B2	Grating, negative and replica gratings of the grating, and method of manufacturing the same A grating of the present invention has a groove cross section shaped, for example, like a sinusoidal wave or a sawtooth other than a laminar shape, and a groove bottom part shaped as a flat form. In a region wherein the groove cycle and the used wavelength are the same degree for wavelengths from near infrared to infrared, the grating of the present invention has the excellent spectrum performance (high efficiency in balance in a wide wavelength zone) more than a holographic grating and an echellette grating in related arts. When replicas for the grating of the present invention are manufactured, the engagement force of grooves with each other is small as the groove aspect ratio is small, and a release agent sufficiently reaches the groove bottom as the groove bottom is large.
US08092697B2	Molecular characterization with carbon nanotube control In a method for fabricating a molecule characterization device, there is formed an aperture in a support structure, and electrical contact pads are formed on a selected surface of the support structure for connection to molecular analysis circuitry. Then at the aperture is provided at least one carbon nanotube. An electrically insulating layer is deposited on walls of the aperture to reduce an extent of the aperture and form a smaller aperture, while depositing substantially no insulating layer on a region of the nanotube that is at the aperture.
US08092696B2	Method for manufacturing printed circuit board An insulating layer made of an insulator film or the like is prepared. Then, a thin metal film and a thin copper film are formed in sequence on the insulating layer. The thin copper film is subsequently laminated with a dry film or the like, and exposed and developed to form a plating resist thereon that have patterns opposite to conductor patterns which are formed in a subsequent step. This is followed by forming conductor patterns made of copper, by electrolytic plating using an electrolytic copper sulfate plating solution, on the surfaces of the thin copper film where the plating resist is not formed. The plating resist is then removed by, for example, stripping. After this, the thin copper film is held at a temperature of not less than 200° C. and not more than 300° C. for approximately an hour to be thermally treated. Then, the thin copper film and the thin metal film are removed by chemical etching except the portions under the conductor patterns.
US08092695B2	Endpoint detection for photomask etching Apparatus and method for endpoint detection are provided for photomask etching. The apparatus provides a plasma etch chamber with a substrate support member. The substrate support member has at least two optical components disposed therein for use in endpoint detection. Enhanced process monitoring for photomask etching are achieved by the use of various optical measurement techniques for monitoring at different locations of the photomask.
US08092692B2	Apparatus and method for separating immiscible fluid components A separator apparatus for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities. A body includes an internal flow channel for a mixture of fluid components to be separated. A rotation generating device brings the fluid mixture to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the flow channel. An extraction device withdraws a central part of the rotating fluid mixture flowing through the flow channel. A bubble introducer introduces micro-sized gas bubbles into the fluid mixture so as to thereby enhance the separation of the fluid components. Also a method for separating immiscible fluid components of different specific gravities.
US08092690B2	Fluid filter element A filter element is removably positionable within a filter housing defining a filter chamber for said filter element. The filter housing comprises a standpipe extending within the filter chamber. The filter element includes a tubular filter media circumscribing the standpipe, a first end cap supporting the filter media at one end thereof, a second end cap longitudinally spaced from the first end cap and supporting the filter media at the opposite end thereof, and a center tube extending between the first and second end caps. The center tube has at least one inlet opening therethrough at a first end thereof adjacent to the first end cap and a standpipe opening therethrough at a second end thereof adjacent to the second end cap. The second end cap has at least one intake opening therethrough radially spaced from the standpipe opening in the center tube.
US08092681B2	Method and device for separating constituents of a liquid feed by liquid-liquid centrifugal chromatography The invention relates to a method for separating constituents of a liquid feed by liquid-liquid centrifugal chromatography and to a device for implementing it. Constituents (A, B) having different partition coefficients such that they are respectively carried along at unequal velocities by a light solvent (l) and a heavier solvent (L), the feed is continuously injected at an intermediate point of a separation column (col), successive cycles comprising alternately a heavy solvent injection stage and a light solvent injection stage are carried out respectively at the two ends of the column consisting of the interconnection in series of at least one set of separation cells, and the separated solvents (FA, FB) are collected during each one of said stages at the column ends opposite the solvent injection points.
US08092674B2	Traveling band screen machine A traveling band screen machine (1) is proposed with a careful fish return. To this end, the screen panels (4) each have a fish lifting channel (26) in which fishes (28) in a liquid-filled collecting recess (27) are lifted out of the stream of liquid and then emptied in the upper guidance zone (21) of the endless screen band (6) in an emptying zone (29) of the screen band machine (1) into a catch collecting drain (30) by tilting the screen panel (4) and the collecting recess (27) before the screen panel (4) reaches the cleaning zone (14) with the spray nozzles (23), in which debris deposited from the sluice channel on the screen panel (4) is cleaned off into the debris collecting drain (24).
US08092672B2	Method and apparatus for hydroprocessing low-volatile hydrocarbon materials into volatile liquids A method and apparatus for catalytic hydroconversion processing of less volatile carbonaceous material to volatile liquid products is disclosed. The process is carried out in a plug-flow reactor system using nanosize metallic catalyst particles dispersed in the reactant slurry with compressed hydrogen/hydrogen-sulfide at a temperature between about 275° C. and 525° C. at a pressure of between about 800 psi and 6000 psi and a residence time in the reactors between about 1 minute and 4 hours.
US08092671B2	Method for processing hydrocarbon pyrolysis effluent A method is disclosed for treating gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit to provide steam cracked tar of reduced asphaltene and toluene insolubles content. The method is suitable for preparing reduced viscosity tar useful as a fuel blending stock, or feedstock for producing carbon black, while reducing or eliminating the need for externally sourced lighter aromatics additives to meet viscosity specifications. The method comprises drawing steam cracked tar from a separation vessel, e.g., a primary fractionator or tar knock-out drum, cooling the tar, and returning it to the separation vessel to effect lower overall tar temperatures within the separation vessel, in order to reduce viscosity increasing condensation reactions. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.
US08092670B2	Method for specifically detecting analyte using photocurrent, and electrode, measuring cell and measuring device for use therein A method, an electrode, a measuring cell, and a measuring device are disclosed which can detect and quantitatively determine an analyte having specific bonding properties, in a highly sensitive, simple and accurate manner using photocurrent. This method comprises contacting a working electrode and a counter electrode with an electrolyte medium, wherein the working electrode has an analyte immobilized thereon through a probe substance and wherein the analyte is bonded to a sensitizing dye; irradiating the working electrode with light to photoexcite the sensitizing dye; and detecting photocurrent flowing between the working electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the photocurrent is generated by transfer of electrons from the photoexcited sensitizing dye to the working electrode. The working electrode comprises an electron accepting layer comprising an electron accepting substance capable of accepting electrons released from the sensitizing dye in response to photoexcitation, wherein the probe substance is supported on a surface of the electron accepting layer. The electron accepting substance is an oxide semiconductor having an energy level lower than that of a lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) of the sensitizing dye. The electrolyte medium comprises an electrolyte and at least one solvent selected from an aprotic solvent and a protic solvent, wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt capable of providing an oxidized sensitizing dye with electrons.
US08092668B2	System and method for quality assurance of a biosensor test strip The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a signal of interest in a biological fluid when the test strip is mated to an appropriate test meter, wherein the test strip and the test meter include structures to verify the integrity of the test strip traces, to measure the parasitic resistance of the test strip traces, and to provide compensation in the voltage applied to the test strip to account for parasitic resistive losses in the test strip traces.
US08092660B2	Methods and equipment for depositing hydrophilic coatings, and deposition technologies for thin films The invention provides certain embodiments that involve sputtering techniques for applying a mixed oxide film comprising silica and titania. In these embodiments, the techniques involve sputtering at least two targets in a common chamber (e.g., in a shared gaseous atmosphere). A first of these targets includes silicon, while a second of the targets includes titanium. Further, the invention provides embodiments involving a substrate bearing a hydrophilic coating, which can be deposited by sputtering or any other suitable thin film deposition technique. The invention also provides techniques and apparatuses useful for depositing a wide variety of coating types. For example, the invention provides thin film deposition technologies in which sputtering apparatuses or other thin film deposition apparatuses are employed.
US08092659B2	Multi-station sputtering and cleaning system A multi-chamber processing system is described for depositing materials on multiple workpieces (wafers, display panels, or any other workpieces) at a time in a vacuum chamber. The system includes a sputtering chamber and a separate pre-clean chamber, where wafers can be transferred between the two chambers by a robotic arm without breaking a vacuum. The wafers are mounted one-by-one onto a rotating pallet in the pre-cleaning chamber and sputtering chamber. The pallet is firmly fixed to a rotatable table in the sputtering chamber. Copper tubing in the table couples RF energy to the wafers, and a liquid running through the copper tubing controls the temperature of the wafers. Multiple targets, of the same or different materials, may concurrently deposit material on the wafers as the pallet is rotating. Multiple magnets (one for each target) in the magnetron assembly in the sputtering chamber oscillate over their respective targets for uniform target erosion and uniform deposition on the wafers. An electrically insulated target backing plate between each magnet and a target has a liquid channel running through it for controlling temperature. The distance between the magnets and the targets is made very small by a thin aluminum plate fixed to the bottom segment of the target backing plate by a dip brazing process. Various shields are described to prevent cross-contamination from the targets and prevent the sputtered target material from entering gaps in the chamber and shorting out insulators.
US08092658B2	Method and apparatus of distributed plasma processing system for conformal ion stimulated nanoscale deposition process A deposition system and method of operating thereof is described for depositing a conformal metal or other similarly responsive coating material film in a high aspect ratio feature using a high density plasma is described. The deposition system includes a plasma source, and a distributed metal source for forming plasma and introducing metal vapor to the deposition system, respectively. The deposition system is configured to form a plasma having a plasma density and generate metal vapor having a metal density, wherein the ratio of the metal density to the plasma density proximate the substrate is less than or equal to unity. This ratio should exist at least within a distance from the surface of the substrate that is about twenty percent of the diameter of the substrate. A ratio that is uniform within plus or minus twenty-five percent substantially across the surface of said substrate is desirable. The ratio is particularly effective for plasma density exceeding 1012 cm−3, and for depositing film on substrates having nanoscale features with maximum film thickness less than half of the feature width, for example, at ten percent of the feature width.
US08092657B2	Module for coating both sides of a substrate in a single pass A module to carry targets in a sputter deposition installation for coating two-sided substrates is described. The module is mountable to the installation through an interface flange that carries at least two targets with their associated magnet systems. When the module is mounted, the targets take positions at opposite sides of the two-sided substrate, while the magnet systems orient the sputter deposition towards the substrate. The module enables coating of both sides of the substrate in one single pass. Different configurations are described with gas distribution systems and additional substrate supports. An enclosure with adjustable blinds in order to reduce gas spreading is also included.
US08092650B2	Method for producing or treating a fibrous web This invention relates to a method for producing or treating a fibrous web, in particular a paper web or paperboard web, with which at least one property of the fibrous web, in particular a CD (cross direction) profile, such as the moisture CD profile, is established such that a preselected quality range is adhered to or a predefined quality value is undershot by no more than a predefined deviation, wherein the power consumption of the method, in particular the heat energy input, is reduced therewith by establishing at least one property such that the lowest permissible value of the quality range or the maximum permissible deviation is reached at least approximately on a straight line.
US08092647B2	Method for treating lignocellulosic materials The present invention is a method for producing a pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material or source using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid derivatives, particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase. Once treated, the material may be refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product and the production of the product is accompanied by strength increases in paper made from the pulp and energy savings in making the pulp, hi addition the treatment or pretreatment produces a soluble carbohydrate source and other components (e.g. acetic acid, other wood components) for further product development. In certain cases a pulp product is not produced and all of the carbohydrate present in the lignocellulose is converted into soluble sugars.
US08092645B2	Control and monitoring system for thin die detachment and pick-up During detachment of a die from an adhesive tape, the inner and outer portions of a first side of the die which is in contact with the adhesive tape is supported with a support surface. A collet contacts the inner and outer portions of a second side of the die opposite to the first side. Support is withdrawn from the outer portion of the die such that the outer portion of the second side of the die bends away from the collet while the support surface only supports the inner portion of the die. Vacuum suction from the collet is applied to attract the outer portion of the die towards the collet and the vacuum suction pressure is monitored until a threshold pressure is reached indicating that the outer portion of the die is contacting the collet. Thereafter, the collet is lifted while holding the die with vacuum suction to completely separate the die from the adhesive tape.
US08092643B2	Method and apparatus for cleaning and surface conditioning objects using plasma A method and apparatus for cleaning and surface conditioning objects using plasma are disclosed. One embodiment of the method discloses providing a plurality of elongated dielectric barrier members arranged adjacent each other, the elongated dielectric barrier members having electrodes coupled therein, providing a ground plane, introducing the objects proximate the elongated dielectric barrier members and the ground plane, and producing a dielectric barrier discharge to form plasma between the ground plane and the elongated dielectric barrier members for cleaning the objects. One embodiment of the apparatus for cleaning objects using plasma discloses a plurality of elongated dielectric barrier members arranged adjacent each other, a plurality of electrodes, each contained within, and extending substantially along the length of, respective ones of the elongated dielectric barrier members, and a ground plane proximate the plurality of elongated dielectric barrier members.
US08092642B2	Plasma processing apparatus Provided is a plasma processing apparatus capable of generating a uniform plasma by preventing a nonuniformity of a current flow in a slot antenna. A dielectric plate is disposed to close a top opening of a plate cover and a slot antenna for generating plasma is disposed on the dielectric plate. By allowing an outer periphery of the slot antenna to make direct contact with an inner wall portion of the plate cover by using a conductive member having elasticity, when a microwave is supplied to slot antenna, it is possible to make an electrical resistance between the inner wall portion of the processing vessel and the outer periphery of the flat plate antenna substantially the same at any point in the entire circumference of the processing vessel, so that magnitude of the microwave current flowing in the slot antenna can be made approximately the same.
US08092640B2	Plasma processing apparatus and semiconductor device manufactured by the same apparatus A plasma processing apparatus of this invention includes a sealable chamber, a gas supply source of reactive material gas, placed outside the chamber, a gas introduction pipe connected to the gas supply source, for introducing the material gas into the chamber, and a plurality of sets of cathode-anode bodies for forming a plurality of discharge spaces which perform plasma discharge of the material gas in the chamber. Herein, the gas introduction pipe includes a gas branch section arranged in the chamber, a main pipe for connecting the gas supply source to the gas branch section, and a plurality of branch pipes connected from the main pipe to each of the discharge spaces via the gas branch section. The branch pipes are configured so that conductances thereof are substantially equivalent to each other.
US08092638B2	Capacitively coupled plasma reactor having a cooled/heated wafer support with uniform temperature distribution A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece includes a reactor chamber, an electrostatic chuck within the chamber for supporting a workpiece, an RF plasma bias power generator coupled to apply RF power to the electrostatic chuck and a refrigeration loop having an evaporator inside the electrostatic chuck with a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. Preferably, the evaporator includes a meandering passageway distributed in a plane beneath a top surface of the electrostatic chuck. Preferably, refrigerant within the evaporator is apportioned between a vapor phase and a liquid phase. As a result, heat transfer between the electrostatic chuck and the refrigerant within the evaporator is a constant-temperature process. This feature improves uniformity of temperature distribution across a diameter of the electrostatic chuck.
US08092635B2	Adjustable steering column utilizing a sleeve and a method of forming a filler with a sleeve A steering column assembly has an outer jacket extending, an inner jacket is slideably disposed in the outer jacket for telescoping movement relative to the outer jacket, and a sleeve disposed between the inner and outer jackets. The sleeve exerts a predetermined frictional force on the inner jacket opposing the telescoping movement. A filler formed from a liquid thermosetting composition is disposed between the sleeve and the outer jacket for securing the sleeve to the outer jacket. Furthermore, a method of forming the steering column assembly includes disposing the inner jacket into the outer jacket and disposing the sleeve between the inner and outer jackets. The method further includes inserting the liquid thermosetting composition into the outer jacket between the outer jacket and the sleeve and curing the liquid thermosetting composition to form the filler.
US08092634B2	Method for connecting a catheter balloon with a catheter shaft of a balloon catheter A method for connecting a catheter balloon with a catheter shaft of a balloon catheter that improves the welding quality of a weld between the catheter balloon and the catheter shaft of the balloon catheter. Preferably, a welding energy absorbing device is arranged, preferably in the form of a coloured tubing, in the area of a fixation site after attaching a pre-fixation and then to irradiate this welding energy absorbing device with the radiation energy to carry out the welding. After the welding the pre-fixation and the welding energy absorbing device are removed.
US08092629B2	Method for forming porous PTFE layer A method for forming a porous PTFE layer includes steps of: combining one or at least two unburned porous PTFE films and a support body that can withstand a heating condition in the following process (a rod or plate shaped support body made of mesh or the like is preferable) by using a predetermined means in such a manner that a slip can be prevented in a heating treatment in the following process; and heating the matter resulted from the above process at a temperature of at least 150° C. and less than the melting point of the PTFE film for the range of 5-120 minutes (preferably at a temperature in the range of the melting point of a thermoplastic resin fiber to 320° C. for the range of 10-60 minutes in the case in which the thermoplastic resin fiber or the like is used in the process).
US08092623B1	Igniter composition, and related methods and devices An igniter composition is provided including metal fuel particles having a predetermined average diameter and metallic oxide oxidizer particles having a predetermined average diameter. The metal fuel particles are mixed substantially homogeneously with the metallic oxide oxidizer particles and, upon initiation of the igniter composition, actively participate in an exothermic reaction with the metallic oxide oxidizer particles. Also provided are methods and devices containing the igniter composition.
US08092622B1	Degradation of TATP, TNT, and RDX using mechanically alloyed metals Bimetallic alloys prepared in a ball milling process, such as iron nickel (FeNi), iron palladium (FePd), and magnesium palladium (MgPd) provide in situ catalyst system for remediating and degrading nitro explosive compounds. Specifically, munitions, such as, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX), nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine that have become contaminants in groundwater, soil, and other structures are treated on site to remediate explosive contamination.
US08092620B2	High strength austenitic TRIP steel An austenitic TRIP steel consisting essentially of, in weight %, 0.14 to 0.18% Al, 2.8 to 3.2% Ti, 23.5 to 23.8% Ni, 3.8 to 4.2% Cr, 1.1 to 1.3% Mo, 0.29 to 0.31% V, 0.01 to 0.015% B, 0.01 to 0.02% C, and balance Fe and incidental impurities exhibits combined high yield strength and high strain hardening leading to improved stretch ductility under both tension and shear dynamic loading conditions.
US08092619B2	R-T-Cu-Mn-B type sintered magnet An R-T-Cu—Mn—B based sintered magnet includes: 12.0 at % to 15.0 at % of R, which is at least one of the rare-earth elements that include Y and of which at least 50 at % is Pr and/or Nd; 5.5 at % to 6.5 at % of B; 0.08 at % to 0.35 at % of Cu; 0.04 at % to less than 0.2 at % of Mn; at most 2 at % (including 0 at %) of M, which is one, two, or more elements that are selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Ga, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Pb and Bi; and T as the balance, which is either Fe alone or Fe and Co and of which at most 20 at % is Co if T includes both Fe and Co.
US08092613B2	Methods and compositions for the removal of starch A method of warewashing for the removal of starch is described herein. The method includes applying an alkaline composition to a dish, then applying an acidic composition to a dish, and then applying a second alkaline composition to the dish. The method may include additional steps. Compositions for using with the method are also disclosed. Finally, dish machines that may be used in accordance with the method are disclosed.
US08092606B2	Deposition apparatus A deposition apparatus configured to form a thin film on a substrate includes: a reactor wall; a substrate support positioned under the reactor wall; and a showerhead plate positioned above the substrate support. The showerhead plate defines a reaction space together with the substrate support. The apparatus also includes one or more gas conduits configured to open to a periphery of the reaction space at least while an inert gas is supplied therethrough. The one or more gas conduits are configured to supply the inert gas inwardly toward the periphery of the substrate support around the reaction space. This configuration prevents reactant gases from flowing between a substrate and the substrate support during a deposition process, thereby preventing deposition of an undesired thin film and impurity particles on the back side of the substrate.
US08092602B2	Thermally zoned substrate holder assembly A thermally zoned substrate holder including a substantially cylindrical base having top and bottom surfaces configured to support a substrate. A plurality of temperature control elements are disposed within the base. An insulator thermally separates the temperature control elements. The insulator is made from an insulting material having a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than the base (e.g., a gas- or vacuum-filled chamber).
US08092599B2	Movable injectors in rotating disc gas reactors A system and method for uniform deposition of material layers on wafers in a rotating disk chemical vapor deposition reaction system is provided, wherein one or more substrates are rotated on a carrier about an axis while maintaining surfaces of the one or more substrates substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation and facing in an upstream direction along the axis of rotation. During rotating a first gas is discharged in the downstream direction towards the one or more substrates from a first set of gas inlets. A second gas is discharged in the downstream direction towards the one or more substrates from at least one movable gas injector, and the at least one movable gas inlet is moved with a component of motion in a radial direction towards or away from the axis of rotation.
US08092598B2	Apparatus and method for thin film deposition Disclosed herein is a thin film deposition apparatus having a reaction chamber for forming a thin film on a plurality of substrates rested on a susceptor. The apparatus comprises: a gas supply means for supplying a plurality of gases to the inside of the reaction chamber from the outside, the gases including a reaction gas; a gas distribution means for distributing and spraying the gases supplied from the gas supply means so as to conform to the purpose of a process; a gas retaining means having a plurality of reaction cells for partitionally accommodating and retaining the respective gases distributed from the gas distribution means; a rotation driving means for rotating the gas retaining means such that the gases retained in the respective reaction cells are exposed to the substrates in sequence; and a gas exhaust means for pumping the gases retained by the gas retaining means to the outside of the reaction chamber.
US08092592B2	Additive for hydraulic binding agent with long processing time and high early strength Exemplary embodiments as disclosed herein are directed to setting and curing accelerators for hydraulic binders, including at least one ester of a polyhydric alcohol with an acid and/or salts thereof, where the acid is a phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid or a C2 to C20 carboxylic acid. Compositions including at least one accelerator as disclosed herein can accelerate the setting and curing of hydraulic binders and mortar or concrete produced therefrom, such as quick-setting cement. Methods for accelerating the setting and curing of hydraulic binders and mortar or concrete produced therefrom are also disclosed.
US08092590B2	Mineral binder and process for producing same The invention relates to a mineral, hydraulic binder for producing concrete or mortars or cement suspensions, based on at least one cement. The cement comprises clinker phases such as, C3S, C2S, C3A, and C4AF, which on reaction with water form hydrate phases that cure to form hardened cement. The cement displays a delay phase after mixing with water of some hours, e.g. from 4 to 8 hours, during which time no appreciable curing reaction takes place. The binder further comprises at least one finely divided SiO2 component and at least one finely divided CaO component, which react with make-up water during the delay phase to form calcium silicate hydrate phases that cure as a result of a pozzolanic reaction and produce early strength.
US08092589B2	Compositions for curing mortar or concrete mixtures, ensuring water retention (during setting), and method therefor The invention relates to compositions intended to be applied to surfaces of freshly poured mortar and/or concrete mixes, before the start of setting, in order to prevent the evaporation of water needed for them to set and harden, which are distinguished by the fact that, for the purpose of making them synergistic with regard to water retention, they are composed, in the form of aqueous emulsions, of: a) at least one petroleum-derived or synthetic paraffin wax containing, as a mixture, saturated and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons of general formulae CnH2n+2 and CnH2n for which n is at least equal to 30 and the melting point of which is between 40° C. and 75° C.; b) at least one linear and/or cyclic hydrocarbon oil, of aliphatic and/or naphthenic origin, which are hydrocarbon chains, by themselves or as a mixture, of general formula CnH2n+2 and CnH2n for which n is less than 30, in a liquid state at room temperature; and/or c) at least one oil formed from at least one ester resulting from the condensation reaction between a saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acid and a monohydric, dihydric or trihydric alcohol.
US08092586B2	Titanium dioxide based photocatalytic composites and derived products on a metakaolin support Described herein is a photocatalytic composite comprising a titanium dioxide supported on metakaolin. In comparison to known embodiments of the sector, the composite of the present invention makes it possible to obtain binders and derived products with high photocatalytic efficiency, even when using photocatalyst quantities which are lesser than those present in products of prior technical art.
US08092585B2	Enhanced bonding layers on titanium materials The present invention provides a dense-coverage, adherent phosphorous-based coating on the native oxide surface of a material. Disclosed phosphorous-based coatings include phosphate and organo-phosphonate coatings. The present invention also provides further derivatization of the phosphorous-based coatings to yield dense surface coverage of chemically reactive coatings and osteoblast adhesion-promoting and proliferation-promoting coatings on the native oxide surface of a titanium material.
US08092582B2	Wet-type exhaust gas desulfurizer An absorbing tower provided with plural spray headers (3) which each have a plurality of spray nozzles (5) and are arranged in a multi-stage state in the flow direction of exhaust gas, in which an absorption liquid containing a slurry of limestone or lime is sprayed through the nozzles (5) to absorb and remove sulfur oxide contained in exhaust gas, wherein each spray nozzle (5) is of an annular spray type (a hollow cone type) and the spray nozzles (5) in the neighborhood of the tower wall have such a structure that the fluid is sprayed radially at spray angles of 50 to 80° with the direction counter to the flow of exhaust gas as the center, while the nozzles (5) in the central part of the tower have such a structure that the fluid is sprayed radially at spray angles of 80 to 130° with the direction counter to the flow thereof as the center. According to the invention, the channeling of exhaust gas in the tower can be inhibited by using two kinds of spray nozzles (5) to thereby prevent the desulfurization performance from lowering caused by blow-by of exhaust gas in the neighborhood of the tower wall. Further, an extremely high pressure loss can be inhibited by the flow-regulating effect of sprayed droplets. Thus, a wet-type exhaust gas desulfurizer with a reduced total cost is obtained.
US08092580B2	Condensation process and containment vessel A condenser and a containment vessel adapted to efficiently condense a gas out of a mixture of condensing and non-condensing gases. In condensers, the fraction of gas within a condenser made up of non-condensing gases can be significantly reduced by withdrawing gas from localized regions of relatively low temperature where the mass fraction of non-condensing gases will be relatively high. In containment vessels, pressures can be reduced by providing a large surface area of the liquid into which the condensing gas condenses in a relatively cool region of the containment vessel. Both these effects result from an appreciation of the manner in which non-condensing gases tend to accumulate in regions which are relatively cold.
US08092579B2	Thermal shock resistant soot filter A ceramic honeycomb filter having improved thermal shock resistance is comprised of a ceramic honeycomb filter that has a heat absorbing material that undergoes a reversible phase change that absorbs at least in part the heat energy, for example, arising from the combustion of Diesel soot entrapped in the filter.
US08092578B2	Method and apparatus for eliminating or reducing waste effluent from a wet electrostatic precipitator A method and apparatus are provided for reducing waste effluent from a system including a boiler and a wet electrostatic precipitator, the waste effluent having blow down water discharged by the boiler during a blow down operation and bleed water discharged by the wet electrostatic precipitator. The method includes collecting the blow down water and providing it to the wet electrostatic precipitator as a makeup water supplement, evaporating a portion of the bleed water and leaving residual bleed water, providing the evaporated bleed water to the wet electrostatic precipitator as a further makeup water supplement, and using the residual bleed water to quench ash produced by combustion of solid fuel by the boiler. The apparatus includes an evaporator that provides direct contact between hot boiler flue gas and the bleed water such that a portion of the flue gas is quenched before being provided to the wet electrostatic precipitator.
US08092577B2	Method and apparatus for removing gaseous or vaporous sterilants from a medium The present invention provides a method and apparatus for removing chemical sterilant molecules from a medium, such as a carrier gas. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing that defines an internal cavity. The housing has an inlet and an outlet fluidly communicating with the internal cavity. An electrode is dimensioned to be received in the internal cavity of the housing. The electrode is made of a material that is chemically active with respect to molecules of a chemical sterilant and conductive to electricity. The electrode is connected to a source of an electrical charge such that an electrical field gradient is formed in a region of space surrounding the electrode. The electrical field gradient is operable to force the chemical sterilant molecule toward the electrode.
US08092574B2	Method of producing reduced iron cast, and method of producing pig iron In a method of producing a reduced iron cast, a cast of a powder which includes total iron of 40% or more and an atomic molar amount of fixed carbon of 0.7 to 1.5 times the atomic molar amount of oxygen compounded with metal oxide reduced in a carbon monoxide atmosphere at 1200° C. is reduced in a rotary hearth furnace. The method includes: producing, in an atmosphere at a maximum temperature of 1200° C. to 1420° C. at a ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide of 0.3 to 1.2 in the reduced zone, a reduced iron-containing material in which a ratio of metal iron is 50 mass % or more and a ratio of carbon is 5 mass % or less; and compression-molding the reduced iron-containing material at a temperature of 500° C. to 800° C. by a roller-type mold.
US08092573B2	Purification of PGM species from mixtures thereof A process for the production of a purified PGM selected from the group consisting of platinum and rhodium from an impure PGM source, the process comprising (a) obtaining an anhydrous PGM halide from the impure PGM source; (b) treating the PGM halide with carbon monoxide at an effective temperature; pressure and time to form the PGM carbonyl halide; and (c) (i) wherein the PGM is platinum, heating the platinum carbonyl halide at an effective platinum decomposition temperature to produce the purified platinum; (ii) wherein the PGM is rhodium, heating the rhodium halide at an effective rhodium decomposition temperature to produce the purified rhodium; and (iii) wherein the platinum carbonyl carbonyl halide and the rhodium carbonyl halide are in a gaseous mixture, effecting step (i) at a temperature lower than the rhodium effective decomposition temperature prior to effecting step (ii). The process is of particular value in the recovery and recycle of PGM materials from vehicle exhaust catalytic converters.
US08092565B2	Particulate filter Disclosed is a particulate filter 10, which comprises a filter body 8 including a plurality of filter segments F1, F2 joined to each other by a joining material 7, wherein each of the filter segments includes a plurality of inflow cells each having a closed end on a downstream side in an exhaust-gas flow direction, and a plurality of outflow cells each having a closed end on an upstream side in the exhaust-gas flow direction. The filter segments include a first filter segment located in a central region of the particulate filter and designed to form each of the inflow cells to have an opening area approximately equal to that of each of the outflow cells, and a second filer segment located in at least a part of an outer peripheral region of the particulate filter and designed to form each of the inflow cells to have an opening area greater than that of each of the outflow cells. The present invention can keep the central region of the particulate filter from becoming overheated during a particulate-filter regeneration process, while suppressing a pressure loss.
US08092563B2	System for treating exhaust gas A system for treating exhaust gas from an engine is disclosed. The system may include a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and defining a flow path therebetween. A fluid treatment element may be arranged in the flow path and configured to treat exhaust gas. A conduit may be fluidly connected with at least one of the housing ports and may have first and second tubular portions. The first portion may have a first cross-section with an inner diameter, and the second portion may have a generally elongated second cross-section with an inner width and an inner length. The inner length of the second cross-section of the conduit may be smaller than the inner diameter of the first cross-section of the conduit, and the inner width of the second cross-section of the conduit may be greater than the inner diameter of the first cross-section of the conduit.
US08092561B2	Cutting tool A cutting tool including a fine and uniform alumina-based substrate is disclosed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the alumina-based substrate includes 0.1 to 25% by volume of one or more metal oxides, or 5 to 80% by volume of metal carbonitride and 0.01 to 10% by volume of one or more metal oxides. Metal constituting the metal oxide and the metal carbonitride is selected from the group consisting of elements from Groups III to VI (including La group and Ac group) of the periodic table, Mg and Co. The metal oxides added to alumina reside at the boundaries of alumina grains, thereby prohibiting the alumina grains from growing excessively during a sintering process.
US08092559B2	Generation of hydrogen from hydrocarbon bearing materials Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.
US08092549B2	Ciliated stent-like-system A ciliated stent-like system and method of operating the same.
US08092545B2	Knee arthroplasty prosthesis method A knee arthroplasty prosthesis includes a femoral component having multiple pieces with engagement means provided for engaging various pieces of the femoral component to one another following their insertion in the incised area of the femur. A tibial component includes multiple pieces designed for assembly following positioning in the incision. The tibial component includes a Morse taper cavity on one piece of the tibial component and a Morse taper extension on another member of the component for receipt therein.
US08092543B2	Osteochondral implant procedure A surgical procedure for preparing a damaged area of a human knee to receive at least one graft according to which a moldable material is positioned over the damaged area and removed after it hardens. Cutting a tape in a configuration and dimension corresponding to the mold and forming at least one opening in the damaged area. Harvesting a graft from a biological sample that is configured to fit in the at least one opening, adhering the at least one graft to a surface of the tape and inserting the graft into each opening of the mold.
US08092541B2	Method of using an anti-growth matrix as a barrier for cell attachment and osteo-inductive factors The present invention generally relates to a method of using a matrix as a barrier for unwanted cell attachment and bone formation in unwanted areas of the human body during implant procedures. More specifically, a growth-inhibiting matrix may be used to prevent migration of osteo-inductive agents or bone tissue from an intervertebral disc space through the outer bands of annulus fibrosis that abuts the spinal tissue, canal, and other surrounding areas.
US08092537B2	Anterior impacted bone graft and driver instruments Instrument and implants are disclosed which provide for insertion of an implant into an intervertebral disc space from multiple approaches to the spine. Specifically, as a preferred aspect of the invention the implant includes a tapered portion and the implant may be inserted from multiple approaches to the spine with the orientation and taper properly oriented in the disc space regardless of the approach.
US08092532B2	Facet arthroplasty devices and methods A prosthesis assembly replaces a cephalad portion of a left natural facet joint on a vertebral body and a cephalad portion of a right natural facet joint on a vertebral body. The prosthesis assembly has a left prosthesis body accommodating fixation to the vertebral body at or near a left pedicle and without support by a lamina. An artificial left facet joint structure carried by the left prosthesis body and is adapted and configured to replace a cephalad portion of the left natural facet joint. The prosthesis assembly further has a right prosthesis body accommodating fixation to the vertebral body at or near a left pedicle and without support by a lamina. An artificial right facet joint structure is carried by the right prosthesis body and is adapted and configured to replace a cephalad portion of the right natural facet joint.
US08092526B2	Cornea implant Annular cornea implant for inserting into a cornea pocket of the human eye via a narrow, tunnel-shaped access, with the end shape of the cornea implant depending on the shortsightedness or astigmatism to be corrected. The aim of the invention is to enable the cornea implant to be implanted in the cornea pocket in a simple manner and in an optimum position. To this end, the implant has a shape memory which is impressed on the basis of the geometry and/or material of the implant, and is designed in such a way that the deformability from a starting shape enables the insertion of the cornea implant into the cornea pocket via the narrow access, and the cornea implant has an adjustment force in the end shape thereof, which enables an essentially independent unfolding of the cornea implant in the cornea pocket.
US08092525B2	Heart valve implant A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US08092524B2	Transcatheter delivery of a replacement heart valve A replacement heart valve apparatus. The heart valve apparatus includes a stent and a valve frame having a substantially cylindrical body defining a lumen. The valve frame includes a plurality of curved wire pairs attached to the substantially cylindrical body. Each curved wire pair includes an inner curved wire and an outer curved wire. The wire frame further having a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet is attached to a respective inner curved wire and extends over a respective outer curved wire, so as to position the body of the leaflet within the lumen of the valve frame.
US08092523B2	Prosthetic heart valves with flexible leaflets A prosthetic heart valve of the type that includes a hollow annular stent and a plurality of flexible leaflets that are attached to the stent. One or more fixture structures are used to attach the leaflets to the stent so that sutures do not have to be used for that purpose. The fixture structures preferably extend annularly at least substantially all the way around the valve. Surfaces of the fixture structures that can come into contact with portions of the leaflets that move during use of the valve can be shaped to help beneficially shape those leaflet portions during their movements.
US08092520B2	Vascular prosthesis connecting stent An expandable vascular stent includes an m×n array of ovals formed in a cylinder, m being the number of columns of ovals in the circumferential direction and n being the number of rows of ovals in the axial direction, and a plurality of prongs extending inwardly from the outer ends of respective ovals in rows 1 and n of the m×n array, and being arranged in facing pairs extending from axially-aligned ovals. The cylinder is expandable from an initial diameter to a pre-determined final diameter, wherein an increase in the diameter of the stent results in a substantial decrease in the length of the stent. The tube and the prongs can be made of surgical stainless steel, the tube being expandable using an angioplasty balloon; or the tube and the prongs can be made of a memory metal and the tube is self-expanding.
US08092519B2	Endovascular aneurysm repair system Method and apparatus for implanting radially expandable prostheses in the body lumens rely on tacking or anchoring of the prostheses with separately introduced fasteners. The prostheses may be self-expanding or balloon expandable. After initial placement, a fastener applier system is introduced within the expanded prostheses to deploy a plurality of fasteners at least one prosthesis end, usually as each end of the prosthesis. The fasteners are usually helical fasteners which are delivered from a helical track in the fastener applier by rotation with a rotator wire. The fasteners will be applied singly, typically in circumferentially spaced-apart patterns about the interior of each end of the prosthesis.
US08092518B2	Methods of implanting two-part heart valves Expandable heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement surgeries are disclosed. In a first embodiment, an expandable pre-assembled heart valve includes a plastically-expandable annular base having plurality of upstanding commissure posts. A tubular flexible member including a prosthetic section and a fabric section is provided, with the prosthetic section being connected to the commissure posts and defining leaflets therebetween, and the fabric section being attached to the annular base. In a second embodiment, an expandable heart valve includes an annular tissue-engaging base and a subassembly having an elastic wireform and a plurality of leaflets connected thereto. The annular base and subassembly are separately stored and connected just prior to delivery to the host annulus. Preferably, the leaflet subassembly is stored in its relaxed configuration to avoid deformation of the leaflets. The expandable heart valves may be implanted using a balloon catheter. Preferably, the leaflets of the heart valves are secured to the commissure regions of the expandable stents using a clamping arrangement to reduce stress.
US08092516B2	Stent member A rotationally-symmetric stent graft for deploying in a curved vessel has identical spaced stents along its length, with the stents being further apart in the region of the greatest curvature. The ends of the stents are parallel to each other and to the ends of the graft. The inter-stent spacing may vary along the entire length of the graft or only adjacent one end.
US08092514B1	Stretchable anti-buckling coiled-sheet stent A stent includes a coiled-up sheet having overlapping inner and outer longitudinal sections extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, and defining a periphery, the coiled-up sheet being unrollable between contracted and enlarged conditions. A plurality of stretchable elements are formed in the coiled-up sheet, the stretchable elements being expandable about the periphery between an unstretched condition to facilitate placement in a delivery device in the contracted condition and a stretched condition to facilitate expansion of the coiled-up sheet to the enlarged condition upon deployment from the delivery device. Preferably, the coiled-up sheet is biased to the enlarged condition, and the stretchable elements are biased to the stretched condition. More preferably, at least one of the biases is provided by a shape memory property of the coiled-up sheet, which is activated by exposing the stent to body temperature.
US08092513B2	Coiled sheet graft for single and bifurcated lumens and methods of making and use A prosthesis is provided for treating aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, occurring in single and bifurcated lumens. The prosthesis comprises an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft, either a sheet or tube, affixed thereto along part or all of the circumference of the coiled sheet portion. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis in single and bifurcated lumens are also provided.
US08092511B2	Modular stent-graft for endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysms and dissections A system and method for treating and repairing complex anatomy characterized by a plurality of vessel portions oriented at various angles relative to each other. The system including a graft device that is capable of being assembled in situ and has associated therewith a method that avoids the cessation of blood flow to vital organs. A delivery catheter system and various graft supporting, mating and anchoring structures are additionally included.
US08092510B2	Retention wire for self-expanding stent A delivery system for self-expanding stents is provided. The delivery system includes a wire releasably attached to a portion of the self-expanding stent. The wire restrains movement of the stent when the stent is released from the delivery system. Thus, more accurate placement of the stent may be possible.
US08092508B2	Implantable medical endoprosthesis delivery system Implantable medical endoprosthesis delivery systems and articles are provided.
US08092506B2	Ionic foot bath array with ionic circulation An ionic foot bath array for generating an ionic foot bath includes an upper rod support structure, at least one electrically non-conductive support structure leg depending downwards from the upper rod support structure and a plurality of generally cylindrical electrically conductive ionic rods each having the same diameter, the ionic rods being removably mounted and depending downwards from the upper rod support structure, each of the ionic rods extending generally parallel with one another in spaced-apart relationship in at least two generally parallel rows, the ionic rods having an intra-row spacing therebetween of no greater than two times the diameter of each ionic rod, the rows being spaced no greater than three times the diameter of each ionic rod, with at least one of the rows being positively charged and at least one of the rows being negatively charged.
US08092503B2	Polyaxial screw system A polyaxial screw system includes a drive cap having a partition wall with a first side and an opposing second side, a passage extending through the partition wall. A sleeve projects from the second side of the partition wall, the sleeve and partition wall bounding a socket. A shaft outwardly projects from the first side of the partition wall. A screw has a threaded portion and a head formed on an end thereof. The head of the screw is at least partially disposed within socket of the drive cap. A collet is at least partially disposed within the socket of the drive cap. At least a portion of a compression cap movably extends through the opening in the partition wall so that the compression cap can selectively move the collet relative to the drive cap.
US08092499B1	Skeletal flexible/rigid rod for treating skeletal curvature An apparatus for treatment of a body having a skeletal curvature comprising:a rod capable of being attached to at least two vertebrae of the spine; which rod, under fluid pressure moves from a first position to an extended position, which extended position straightens the two vertebrae; anda hydraulic mechanism, in fluid communication with the rod, which moves the rod from the first position to the extended position, wherein the rod and hydraulic mechanism are capable of being inserted within the body having a skeletal curvature.
US08092498B2	Occipital fixation screw A surgical implant assembly and a method for securing a fixation rod, where the assembly is capable of being secured to a bone structure are disclosed. The assembly includes at least two rigid structures configured to be secured to the bone structure. The structures include a distal portion for receiving a portion of the fixation rod therebetween, a tab positioned at a distal point of the distal portion, a screw compression nut and a distal expansion member coupled to the screw compression nut that are driven down the rigid structures, and a rod compression nut and a proximal expansion member coupled to the rod compression nut that engage the rigid structures so that the fixation rod is disposed between the combination the screw compression nut and the distal expansion member and the combination of the rod compression nut and the proximal expansion member.
US08092494B2	Pedicle screw constructs for spine fixation systems A pedicle screw coupling construct for a pedicle screw construct provides fixation of angular orientation thereof relative to a pedicle screw independent of fixation of a received spinal rod to the coupling construct. The pedicle screw construct forms one component or element in a spinal fixation system. The independent fixation coupling construct also provides for fixation of the angular orientation of the coupling construct while the coupling construct has received the spinal rod. In another form, a coupling head or construct is configured to allow a pedicle screw shaft to pass therethrough but retain the pedicle screw head for rotation of the coupling head about the pedicle screw head. The coupling head or construct is also configured to allow at least a 45° arc of pivot or articulation about a pedicle screw shaft relative to a longitudinal axis of a spinal rod received in the body. This allows the head with a received spinal rod to fold, bend or pivot relative to the pedicle screw shaft, particularly to a greater degree than the prior art.
US08092492B2	Water-swellable copolymers and articles and coatings made therefrom The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a copolymer that includes a first monomer and a second monomer that is different from the first monomer, wherein both the first and second monomer are selected from the group consisting of 3-sulfopropyl acrylate potassium salt, sodium acrylate, N-(tris(hydroxyl methyl)methyl)acrylamide, and 2-acrylamide-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid. The present disclosure further relates to methods for preparing the copolymer compositions and shaped articles comprising the copolymers.
US08092475B2	Ultrasonic horn for removal of hard tissue Ultrasonic horns configured for use with a surgical ultrasonic handpiece including a resonator are described. The ultrasonic horns include an elongated member having a longitudinal internal channel extending partially therethrough. Disposed on the distal end of the elongated member is a chisel and awl shaped tip configured for cutting and/or abrading hard tissue, for example bone.
US08092457B2	Drilling device and drilling procedures for surgical purposes A medical drilling device for drilling of human or animal tissue carries a drill (7) that is electrically contacted by a bore electrode (9) and a backing electrode (10). Both electrodes (9, 10) are charged by a resistance-measuring device (11) in a way, that electrical resistance of tissue (2, 3, 4), preferably impedance, as measured between the drill (7) and the backing electrode (10) becomes measurable. By means of a monitoring device (13), the surgeon is provides with information about the type of the respective tissue and the depth of drilling.
US08092456B2	Multiple pathways for spinal nerve root decompression from a single access point A method of accessing target tissue adjacent to a spinal nerve of a patient includes the steps of accessing a spine location of the patient by entering the patient through the skin at an access location, inserting a flexible tissue modification device through the access location to the spine location, advancing a distal portion of the first flexible tissue modification device from the spine location to a first exit location, passing through the first exit location and out of the patient, advancing the first or a second flexible tissue modification device through the same access location to the spine location and to a second exit location, and passing through the second exit location and out of the patient.
US08092454B2	Fixation instrument for treating a bone fracture A fixation instrument for treating a bone fracture including a bone screw and a nail, wherein the bone screw extends through an opening in the head or proximal end of the nail. A movable insert is disposed within a chamber located at the proximal end of the nail. The insert engages the bone screw to prevent rotation thereof once the bone screw is placed in position.
US08092440B2	Absorbent article with improved leakage security and fit An absorbent article of the kind which is worn as a pair of absorbent pants with a waist opening defined by a rear waist edge and a front waist edge, and two leg openings. The absorbent article preferably includes an absorbent body attached to a covering. The covering preferably includes an elastic material arranged within an area which extends at least from the front waist edge to the leg openings. The elastic material is preferably treated. The treated elastic material preferably has no or reduced elasticity within a portion of the covering overlapping the absorbent core.
US08092434B2	Device and method for washing nasal passages A nasal passage washing device includes a pliable body including an open top; and an applicator cap removably attached to the pliable body to cover and uncover the open top. The applicator cap includes an applicator tip having a substantially frustoconical configuration sized and shaped for receipt at least partially within a nostril of a user for sealing engagement therewith, the applicator tip including a hole to transfer washing solution there through, a washing solution transfer tube in communication with the hole of the applicator tip and a bottom of an inside of the pliable body to transfer washing solution from the bottom of the inside of the pliable body to the hole of the applicator tip, and a one-way air valve that only allows air flow into the pliable body through the one-way air valve and does not allow air flow and washing solution flow out of the pliable body through the one-way air valve.
US08092433B2	Dysphagia recovery by electrical stimulation A device for assisting recovery from dysphagia, and a method of preventing and/or treating dysphagia. The device includes a catheter suitable for insertion into the body of a patient, for the introduction of nutrients to the stomach of said patient, and electrodes located on a surface of the catheter, the electrodes being positioned such that when the catheter is inserted into a patient the electrodes are in a suitable position for applying electrical pharyngeal stimulation.
US08092429B2	Needle assembly for use in delivering precise dosages of proteinaceous pharmaceutical compositions and methods for use of same The needle assembly of the invention is a quad-partite system for use with an arc-center stereotactic headframe that allows a clinician to deliver recombinant expression vectors through the needle assembly to targeted sites at exact depths in the brain. Methods for use of the needle assembly with a rube insert for the needle cannula that does not bind proteins, as in protein viral capsids, permit delivery of precise volumes of pharmaceutical compositions containing viral recombinant expression vectors for gene therapy.
US08092426B2	Regional anesthesia system and cart A regional anesthesia system and a cart for aiding in the placement of a regional anesthesia block without the need of ancillary assistance. The invention includes equipment for use in the performance of a regional anesthesia block which is carried on a cart for transporting and providing a stable foundation for the equipment. The equipment includes a nerve localization means such as ultrasound or a peripheral nerve stimulator for locating a target nerve of a patient, a position assist arm for maintaining the position of the localization means over the target nerve while the operator inserts an anesthetic needle over the target nerve, and an anesthetic infusion device for infusing or aspirating through the anesthesia needle. The infusion device includes an infusion pump controlled by a foot pedal. The system may be easily transported to a patient requiring a regional anesthesia block, and allows the regional anesthesia block to be performed with minimal ancillary assistance.
US08092423B2	Low profile instrument access device A low profile surgical access device includes an elongated cannula having an opening defined at a proximal end thereof including an inner peripheral surface dimensioned to facilitate passage of instrumentation therethrough and an outer peripheral surface configured to operatively engage and removably secure to tissue via, e.g., fixation ribs, adhesive, anchors, clips, suction elements, expandable materials and/or combinations thereof. A valve is operatively coupled to the elongated cannula and provides a substantially fluid tight seal when instrumentation is inserted through the cannula. A seal housing is included which is positionable relative to the cannula and which is configured to operatively engage and removably secure to tissue. The instrument seal in the seal housing is positioned in vertical registry with the valve in the elongated cannula.
US08092410B2	Hydrotherapy jet A hydrotherapy jet includes a jet body having an open upstream end and an open downstream end and defining a flow path between the open upstream end and open downstream end, a flapper disposed within the flow path, the flapper having upstream flapper and downstream flapper ends and rotatably connected to the jet body at the upstream flapper end to rotatably oscillate about the upstream flapper end when a stream of water is introduced from upstream to downstream through the flow path and a head spoiler formed on the downstream flapper end to reduce the frequency of oscillation of the flapper wherein a stream of water pulsating effect is felt by a user of the jet apparatus adjacent the open downstream end as the flapper rotatably oscillates.
US08092409B2	Reinforced connector A connector for attaching a flexible tube to a fluid passage of another object includes a housing and a connector port on the body. The connector port is sized and shaped for connecting the connector port in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the object. The connector includes a tube port projecting from the body. The tube port is adapted for fluid communication with the connector port and is sized and shaped for being received in an end of the flexible tube to establish fluid communication with the flexible tube. The tube port includes a tube retainer that projects from the body toward the tube port. The retainer has an engaging end portion disposed in relation to the tube port to engage the flexible tube when the tube port is received in the flexible tube. The flexible tube is restrained from lateral movement with respect to the tube port.
US08092407B2	Massage machine A massage machine using a small size and high torque brushless DC motor includes a driving unit moved up and down along guide rails of a chair and a first motor for moving the driving unit up and down. A pair of treatment head bases are driven reciprocally in opposite directions to each other; and a second motor reciprocally drives the treatment head bases in opposite directions to each other. Treatment heads are respectively supported by the treatment head bases; and a third motor drives the treatment heads in a plane substantially perpendicular to a backrest. A control circuit drives the respective motors respectively independently of one another. Each motor is a brushless motor. A control circuit corrects, corresponding to a load imposed on the brushless DC motor, a waveform of a drive signal applied to a winding of the brushless DC motor so as to allow a current flowing through the winding of the brushless DC motor to have a substantially sinusoidal waveform making it possible to reduce discomfort due to motor noise, and to accurately control the motor rotation speed.
US08092404B2	Chest compression apparatus for cardiac arrest The invention is an apparatus for increasing intrathoracic pressure for resuscitating cardiac arrest patients. The apparatus comprises a flexible, substantially inelastic belt wrapped around the patient's chest and attached to a force converter. The force converter converts a downwardly directed force into a chestward resultant, which depresses the sternum, and two belt tightening resultants. The force converter comprises a pair of arm assemblies, each having a pair of spaced arms, which are pivotably mounted to a base. The base is positioned near the patient's sternum and the ends of the belt attach to one end of each arm assembly. The opposite, handle ends of the arm assemblies are depressed toward the chest causing tightening of the belt and compression of the chest cavity.
US08092393B1	Monitoring device with an accelerometer, method and system A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
US08092390B2	Medico-surgical devices An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5μ to 10μ are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen.
US08092388B2	Automated view classification with echocardiographic data for gate localization or other purposes A view represented by echocardiographic data is classified. A probabilistic boosting network is used to classify the view. The probabilistic boosting network may include multiple levels where each level has a multi-class local structure classifier and a plurality of local-structure detectors corresponding to the respective multiple classes. In each level, the local structure is classified as a particular view and then the local structure is detected to determine whether the currently selected local structure corresponds to the class. The view classification may be used to determine gate locations, such as a gate for spectral Doppler analysis.
US08092386B1	Method and implantable system for blood-glucose concentration monitoring In an implantable medical device for monitoring blood-glucose concentration in the blood, metabolic oxygen consumption is derived by measuring physiological metrics related to mixed venous oxygen concentration. Blood-glucose concentration is determined using correlations of blood-glucose concentration with measures of metabolic oxygen consumption including oxymetric, temperature, and electrocardiographic data. Additional physiological sensor measurements may be used to enhance the accuracy of the analysis of blood-glucose concentration. By using a combination of oxymetric and other physiological metrics, blood-glucose concentration can be reliably calculated over a wide range. The device compares the blood-glucose concentration with upper and lower acceptable bounds and generates appropriate warning signals if the concentration falls outside the bounds. The device may also control a therapeutic device to maintain blood-glucose concentration within an acceptable range. A calibration technique determines patient-specific parameters for use in the calculation of blood-glucose concentration.
US08092384B2	System and method for continuous detection of an analyte in bloodstream A method for performing a blood assay is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: positioning an acoustic biosensor in fluid communication with a blood vessel of the patient whereby blood from the blood vessel contacts the biosensor. The biosensor includes at least one material adapted to bind to an analyte. The method also includes the steps of detecting a change in at least one of an electrical and mechanical property of the biosensor indicative of a mass change resulting from binding of the at least one material with the analyte and transmitting a real time signal representative of mass change to a display module to provide real time analysis by a clinician.
US08092383B2	Health support method and system thereof To provide a method for recognizing/analyzing a plurality of data concerning health management of an individual as his/her personal characteristic pattern data while considering the relationship between the data instead of analyzing each of the data separately; a health support method provided by the method; and a system thereof.A support computer stores individual health data acquired in advance in individual data storage means and subjects the individual heath data extracted from the individual data storage means to a multivariate analysis, thereby setting a reference space of the individual, which is stored in reference data storage means. For the individual health data received from the user terminal, a Mahalanobis' generalized distance is calculated from the reference space of the individual read out from the reference data storage means and the health condition of the individual is judged according to the distance.
US08092377B2	Endoscope light intensity controller An endoscope device includes an optical coupler, an image pickup module, a second bundle of optical fibers, a photodetector and an image processing module. The optical coupler has an input end optically coupled to a light source, a first output end and a second output end. The image pickup module includes a lens module and a first bundle of optical fibers. A end of the first bundle of the optical fibers is optically coupled to the output end of the optical coupler. An opposite end of the first bundle of the optical fibers is configured for emitting the light to illuminate an object. The second bundle of optical fibers has a end optically coupled to an image side of the lens module. An opposite end of the second bundle of the optical fibers and the second output end of the optical coupler are optically coupled to the photodetector.
US08092374B2	Variably flexible insertion device and method for variably flexing an insertion device A variably flexible insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. Tendons within the hollow body maintain the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions. A method for variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument, includes providing a hollow body having inner and outer sleeves defining a space therebetween in which tendons are disposed. Suction is applied to create a vacuum in the space for frictionally locking the tendons in place between the sleeves in a relatively stiff condition of the hollow body. The vacuum is relieved to release the tendons in a relatively flexible condition of the hollow body.
US08092368B2	Methods and devices for cardiac surgery Methods for performing minimally invasive heart surgery include accessing a heart of a patient through a first incision on the left thorax of the patient, contacting the heart through the incision with a heart stabilizing device and/or a heart positioning device, introducing at least one coupling device through a second incision on the patient located apart from the first incision, coupling the coupling device with the heart stabilizing device or the heart positioning device, and performing a surgical procedure on the heart. Systems may include a retractor device, a heart stabilizing device, and a coupling device, for enhancing cardiac surgery. Any suitable heart surgery may be performed using methods, devices or systems of the present invention. In one embodiment, a CABG procedure is performed.
US08092362B2	Separator arrangement in sanitary design A separator arrangement includes a separator having a drum with a vertical rotation axis. The drum is placed on a rotatable drive spindle and is surrounded by a shroud. A separating wall separates the separator arrangement into a sanitary area that includes the drum and the shroud and a drive area that includes the drive device. The separator and the drive device are decoupled as a unit, in terms of vibration, by at least one of the separating wall and a foundation attachment. The drive device includes a motor, a coupling, at least one bearing device, and a flange section around the drive spindle underneath a drive cover, and a sealing device. A membrane arrangement is formed in a region of the drive cover and, for vibration purposes, decouples the drive cover from the machine frame in a region around the drive spindle.
US08092359B1	Fuser member and fuser member surface layer A fuser member for toner fusing systems and processes. This fuser member has a fuser base and a fusing surface layer, and the fusing surface layer contains a fluoroelastomer and filler particles. The filler particles have a mean particle diameter greater than 5 microns, and a modulus greater than the modulus of the fluoroelastomer at fusing temperatures. The fusing surface layer has at least the minimum proportion by volume of these particles, with at least the minimum mean particle diameter, that will provide the fusing surface layer with an equilibrium surface roughness so that, in fusing toner to substrate, the fuser member generates an image having a gloss number less than 10.
US08092357B1	Spindle gripping device and method A spindle gripping device and method for use in a CNC machine for re-orienting a workpiece. The gripping device includes an attachment portion, a translational driver, and a gripping portion. The attachment portion mechanically attaches the gripping device to a spindle of the CNC machine, and allows a transfer of the rotation of the spindle to the gripping device. The translational driver translates the input rotational force into a linear movement. The gripping portion uses the linear movement to open and close claws of the gripping device. A controller monitors and controls the operation of the CNC machine, so as to control an exchange of the working tool with the gripping device, and to control actuation and subsequent movement of the gripping device to reposition the workpiece into a desired orientation.
US08092355B2	System and method for vibrotactile guided motional training Motional training is achieved by providing a subject with vibrotactile feedback in response to an attempt by the subject to perform predetermined motions. In particular, an attempt by the subject to perform at least one predetermined motion is monitored using sensors, such as force plates or inertial sensors. The sensor signals indicate results of the attempt by the subject to perform the at least one predetermined motion, and a variance between the at least one predetermined motion and the results of the attempt by the subject to perform the at least one predetermined motion is determined. Vibrotactile signals are then sent to the subject by activating one or more actuators coupled to the subject, where the one or more actuators are spatially oriented with respect to the subject to indicate one or more directions. The vibrotactile signals indicate the variance with respect to the one or more directions.
US08092353B2	Apparatus and system for a fitness stick An apparatus and system are disclosed for a fitness stick. The apparatus includes an elongated rod having a center point, a first end, and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the first end, and a second track connected with the rod and extending helically away from the center point along an outer surface of the elongated rod toward the second end. Any point along the second track is reflectively symmetrical to a corresponding point on the first track about a central plane extending through the center point and orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongated rod. The system includes the apparatus, first and second hand-slides, and a resistance band coupling the first hand-slide with the second hand-slide.
US08092349B2	Stationary exercise apparatus A stationary exercise device having variable footpaths is disclosed. The exercise device includes a frame, a pair of supporting members that have a first end to rotate about an axis and a second end to move along a reciprocating path, a pair of pedals joined to the supporting members, and a guider assembly for adjusting an incline angle of the reciprocating path.
US08092348B2	Climber appliance An exercise apparatus to simulate climbing is described that includes such features as arm handles that move in synchronism with the motion of foot pedals to provide a total body workout; side handrails; a mounting step; linear foot movement at a simulated climbing angle; a three point support structure using a vertical support column; pedal track covers; a mechanism to provide constant resistance to pedal motion; and pedal impact absorption.
US08092344B2	Collection and display of athletic information Systems and techniques for the collection and display of athletic information. Athletic data relating to a single person or group of people is collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed at a desired remote location so that the person or people can review and critique their performance. In addition, athletic data for multiple persons can be collected at a central location, and subsequently displayed to a user at a desired remote location, so that the user can compare his or her athletic activities to others.
US08092342B2	Method for adapting an automated transmission of a heavy vehicle in consideration of a speed sensitive PTO Method for adapting an automated transmission of a heavy vehicle in consideration of a speed sensitive PTO. The method selects appropriate gears based on the constraint that the engaged PTO should remain below a set speed limit. The information about the speed limit of the PTO is used by the transmission control unit to ensure that the engine does not drive the PTO at a speed higher than the given speed limit. The engine speed may also be limited to reduce the engine speed to prevent it from exceeding the allowable PTO speed.
US08092318B2	Golf club assembly and golf club with suspended face plate A golf club head includes a body member having a front surface, a major recess formed in the front surface, and a plurality of minor recess formed in a surface of the major recess. A face plate includes a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the rear surface. The face plate is received in the major recess, and each projection is received in a corresponding minor recess. A layer of resilient material may be disposed between each projection and the corresponding minor recess.
US08092317B2	Visual and tactile confirmation golf grip and system A visual and tactile confirmation golf grip and system is provided. The golf grip includes a grip body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a grip length, a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior body surface. The exterior body surface is defined by a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant. The golf grip may include a first alignment channel, a second alignment channel, a third alignment channel, or a fourth alignment channel. The alignment channels are configured to extend longitudinally along the exterior body surface. The golf grip also includes at least one butt end alignment channel that extends along the proximal end of the golf grip. The alignment channels are sized and dimensioned to accommodate two-point discrimination, and thus allow a golfer to tactilely perceive the alignment channels to help build psychomotor confidence, which ultimately leads to better golf shots.
US08092315B2	Methods and apparatus to indicate impact of an object In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate layer having a first and second sides, and at least one thermochromic compound layer to generate a set of temporary marks. The set of temporary marks is configured to include a first temporary mark at a first impact location associated with a first impact to a surface of a first object by a second object, and subsequent temporary marks at subsequent impact locations associated with subsequent impacts to the surface of the first object. The thermochromic compound layer can be in direct contact with the second object during the first impact, and is configured to enable the first temporary mark to fade throughout a fading period accommodative of the subsequent impacts, and to remain distinguishable throughout the fading period from the subsequent temporary marks. Other examples, embodiments and related methods are described and claimed herein.
US08092308B2	Networked gaming system A networked gaining system wherein a game client application connects a player to at least one game server having at least one game table. The game server provides game operations and displays for transmission to the game client application and a display including at least one screen display designating a lobby from which a player can request to be seated at one or more of a plurality of virtual game positions in one of a plurality of multi-player games. The at least one lobby screen display is accessible without the user having to login to the game client application. Further, a player may configure the networked gaming system so that when the user logs-in, the player is immediately taken to a game and “bought-in”, if necessary. An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed as an overlay messaging program incorporating the above features.
US08092307B2	Network gaming system A gaming system is disclosed that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input. The gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of game units connected via a network. The game server stores one or more games. The game units each include a web browser having a monetary input device, and a ticket dispenser having a printer. The game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit via the ticket dispenser in response to winning game play. The gaming system enables game units to request games from the game server over the network. The games may be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.
US08092299B2	Gaming system and method for normalizing average expected payouts to players The gaming system disclosed herein accounts for game play over a gaming session in determining a bonus game attribute for a triggered bonus game. The gaming system maintains a plurality of different bonus game attributes. Each different bonus game attribute is associated with a different bonus game attribute modification event and an initial probability of that bonus game attribute being selected for a play of a bonus game. For each bonus game attribute modification event that occurs, the gaming system modifies the probability that the associated bonus game attribute will be selected for a play of a bonus game. Upon an occurrence of a bonus game triggering event, the gaming system randomly selects one of the maintained bonus game attributes. The gaming system then displays a bonus game and determines a bonus game award utilizing the selected bonus game attribute.
US08092297B2	Gaming system and method for providing a bonus based on number of gaming machines being actively played A gaming system includes a controller linked to a plurality of gaming devices. The central server tracks: (i) a quantity of gaming devices being actively played by players, or (ii) a quantity of players actively playing at the gaming devices. The controller determines the players' eligibility for different awards based on the tracked quantity. When the controller tracks a first quantity, the controller provides the active players with an opportunity to win a first award. When the central server tracks a second quantity, the central server provides the active players with an opportunity to win a second award. As the tracked quantity changes, the controller determines or modifies the number of awards available to the players actively playing at the gaming devices.
US08092294B2	Apparatus and method for facilitating game play in an electronic lottery game network At least one pool of game play records is stored at a central processing system. Each game play record includes a record index selected from a set of unique index values, each associated with a different result type. A record index associated with a particular game play record is communicated from the central processing system to the player terminal in response to a game play request which a player has entered at the player terminal. The player terminal responds to the received record index by generating display commands using data at the player terminal to produce a graphic representation at the player terminal. This graphic representation is consistent with the result type associated with the index value comprising the particular record index which has been communicated to the player terminal.
US08092289B2	Techniques for use with computerized games having cards Techniques are described for determining card movement in a computerized game. A representation of one or more cards to be played in a simulated environment is provided. A movement of at least one of said cards is determined in accordance with one or more of an attribute of the card and a current condition in the simulated environment.
US08092288B2	Managing multi-player video game input A method of managing multi-player game input as single-player game input includes building a command queue, the command queue being a series of time-slices; extracting a most recent time-slice from the command queue, the most recent time-slice including at least one command from difference inputs of the multi-player input; building alternate command queues with information extracted from the most recent time-slice; analyzing the command queue and the alternate command queues to determine an optimum command queue, the optimum command queue including commands from at least one input of the multi-player input; and outputting the optimum command queue as the single-player game input.
US08092278B2	Reclamation method of semiconductor wafer Chamfer correction is performed to a chamfered portion at least on a front side of a silicon wafer after an incoming inspection. Thereby, a thickness of the chamfered portion on the front side of the wafer is restored, and thus the number of reclamation cycles of the silicon wafer can be increased. In addition, the chamfered portion is not deformed even after reclamation is repeated for a plurality of times.
US08092277B2	Method of grinding semiconductor wafers, grinding surface plate, and grinding device A method of grinding semiconductor wafers including simultaneously grinding both surfaces of multiple semiconductor wafers by rotating the wafers between a pair of upper and lower rotating surface plates in a state where the wafers are held on a carrier so that centers of the wafers are positioned on a circumference of a single circle, wherein a ratio of an area of a circle passing through the centers of the wafers to an area of one of the wafers is greater than or equal to 1.33 but less than 2.0; surfaces of the fixed abrasive grains comprised in the surface plates are comprised of pellets disposed in a grid-like fashion, with the pellets provided in a center portion and pellets provided in a peripheral portion being larger in size than the pellets provided in an intermediate portion.
US08092275B2	Abrasive air blast system with air cooler for blast nozzle and air dryer for storage tank An abrasive blaster system includes a storage tank for storing dry granular abrasive media, a source of pressurized air and a metering valve for mixing the granular abrasive media with the pressurized air for release through a blast nozzle. A cooling system is in line with the source of pressurized air for cooling the air received from the source before it is introduced to the metering valve, whereby cooled air is introduced into the metering valve. The system also includes a dryer system downstream of the cooling system and adapted for selectively receiving a portion of the cooled air for further drying it. The dryer system is in communication with the storage tank, whereby cooled, dry air is introduced into the storage tank.
US08092274B2	Substrate polishing metrology using interference signals A polishing pad assembly for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a polishing pad having a polishing surface and a surface opposite the polishing surface for attachment to a platen, and a solid light-transmissive window formed in the polishing pad. The light-transmissive window is more transmissive to light than the polishing pad. The light-transmissive window has a light-diffusing bottom surface.
US08092273B2	Underwear for lower parts Lower underwear to be put on a body for intimate contact therewith for the purpose of correcting distortion of the pelvis. The lower underwear is provided with a tightening band passing a right pubis proximity portion, a right anterior superior iliac spine proximity portion, a sacrum proximity portion, a left anterior superior iliac spine proximity portion and a left pubis proximity portion in this order when the lower underwear is put on the body. The lower underwear provided with such a band is capable of gradually correcting distortion of the pelvis and the like by tightening the pelvis without applying pressure on the abdomen.
US08092269B2	Method of manufacturing spark plug A decrease in yield and degradation of productivity can be avoided when a spark plug having an insulator with low mechanical strength is manufactured. In a second process, a terminal electrode 15 is inserted to a predetermined position in a state where an insulator 12 is heated to a temperature equal to or greater than the softening temperatures of first to third powder materials 16P, 17P, and 18P such that the first powder material 16P becomes a first conductive sealing material layer 16, the second powder material 17P becomes a resistor 17, and the third powder material 18P becomes a second conductive sealing material layer 18. In addition, a speed at which the terminal electrode 15 is inserted is reduced between the start and the end of the second process.
US08092268B2	Repairing methods of pixel structure and organic electro-luminescence displaying unit The invention provides a method of repairing the pixel structure, and the method includes the following. First, an electrical connection between the current control unit and the power line is cut. The power line is then electrically connected to the redundant active device, so that the current control unit and the redundant active device control the current provided by the power line. The invention provides a method of repairing the organic electro-luminescence display unit, suitable for repairing the above-mentioned organic electro-luminescence display unit, and the method includes the following. First, an electrical connection between the current control unit and the power line is cut. The power line is electrically connected to the redundant active device, so that the current control unit and the redundant active device control the current passing through the organic electro-luminescence layer.
US08092265B2	Jet propulsion device A jet propulsion device and method for controlling movement of the jet propulsion device, where liquid inlets are positioned at a distance from the surface of the device. Preferably, the inlets are positioned in the stabilizing fins of the device. When the device reaches a certain speed, a Riabouchinsky cavity forms around the device, and the radius of the Riabouchinsky cavity is substantially equal to the distance between the inlets and the longitudinal axis of the device.
US08092263B2	Process for producing connector and connector produced by the same process An object of the invention is to provide a process for providing a connector, which prevents component atoms constituting a material and a substrate layer from diffusing into a tin-containing material layer and suppressing an occurrence of external force-type whiskers upon the application of external force to a surface of the tin-containing material layer, and a connector produced by the same process. In a production process of a connector comprising a step of providing a substrate layer on a surface of the material to surface treat the material and a step of providing a tin-containing material layer on an upside of the substrate layer to surface treat the substrate layer, the object can be achieved by further comprising a step of providing a barrier intermediate layer before the provision of the tin-containing material layer.
US08092259B2	Connector structure, plug connector, receptacle connector and electronic device a connector structure includes: a receptacle connector including (a) a receptacle terminal in which a receptacle contact portion is provided and (b) a housing into which a fiber material is impregnated, and in which a storage space is provided to store the receptacle contact portion; a plug connector engaged into the receptacle connector, the plug connector having a plug terminal in which a plug contact portion is provided, the plug contact portion being inserted between the receptacle contact portion and a partition wall in the storage space; and a contact inhibition member which is provided between the partition wall of the storage space and the receptacle terminal to suppress the plug contact portion from contacting the partition wall of the storage space.
US08092258B2	Modular outlet In conjunction with a wiring in a house carrying data network signal, a modular outlet (100) includes a base module (100a) and interface module (100b). The base module connects to the wiring and is attached to the surface of a building. The interface module provides a data unit connection. The interface module is mechanically attached to the base module and electrically connected thereto. The wiring may also carry basic service signal such as telephone, electrical power and cable television (CATV). In such a case, the outlet provides the relevant connectivity either as part of the base module or as part of the interface module. Both proprietary and industry standard interfaces can be used to interconnect the module. Furthermore, a standard computer expansion card (such as PCI, PCMCIA and alike) may be used as interface module.
US08092257B2	Memory card for an expresscard slot A memory card is disclosed resembling a CompactFlash card, but which is compatible with an ExpressCard slot.
US08092254B2	Wire to board connector with multiple contact points A wire to board connector has improved contact reliability and includes a receptacle connector for mounting to a circuit board and a plug connector with a mating blade for insertion into an opening of the receptacle connector. Both connectors have shields that are formed around their exterior and the receptacle connector has an interior shield member that envelops the insertion opening of the receptacle connector. Individual connect legs are formed with this interior shield member and they are spaced apart from each other widthwise of the insertion opening. A contact spring is disposed within the interior of the receptacle connector to exert a contact force on the mating plug connector.
US08092252B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes an insulating body defining a receiving chamber of which a top inside is further concaved upward to form a buckling cavity, an inner cover and an outer shell mounted outside the insulating body. A top wall of the buckling cavity is provided with a window vertically penetrating therethrough to communicate with the buckling cavity. The inner cover has a covering board buckled in the buckling cavity and facing to the window. The outer shell has a base plate covered on the top wall. A portion of the base plate is punched downward to form a contact portion which stretches into the window to electrically contact the covering board of the inner cover so as to achieve a grounding function of the inner cover through the outer shell.
US08092250B2	Electrical connection device with light indicator An electric connection device including a first connection member to be powered by an electric current and a second conjugated connection member, the first connection member being provided with at least one luminous member having at least two states and powered by a portion of the supply current of said first connection member. The device includes a position sensor having two states and provided in the first connection member so as to be actuated by a portion of the second connection member, or a mobile portion of the first connection member driven by a portion of said second member when said members are in a connection position, thus switching the position sensor from state to the other, the latter being adapted to switch the luminous element or one of them from one state to the other depending on its own state.
US08092247B2	Power plug structure A power plug structure is provided. The present invention includes a loop inductor, a top cover, a bottom cover, a terminal holder, a metal shell and a cable. The top cover and the bottom cover are vertically engaged with each other to form a space to accommodate the loop inductor. The terminal holder has a plate and a group of press-fit holes penetrating the plate. An upper press-fit hook of the top cover and a lower press-fit hook of the bottom cover are inserted into the press-fit holes from the rear side of the terminal holder to press-fit with the plate. The metal shell shelters the top cover and bottom cover. The cable has a plurality of wires respectively electrical connecting with wire grippers of the top cover. The abovementioned power plug structure is easy to assemble and has a wave-filtering function and a reliable structure.
US08092245B2	Electrical connector assembly An electrical connector assembly includes a male connector, a female connector, and a sleeve. The male connector has a shoulder. The female connector is constructed to receive the male connector and has a flex arm with a nib. The sleeve is constructed to receive the female connector and has an inner surface. When the male connector, the female connector, and the sleeve are telescoped together, the inner surface of the sleeve overlaps the flex arm and forces engagement between the shoulder and the nib to eliminate relative movement between the male and female connectors.
US08092243B1	Universal serial bus (USB) connector retaining device and arrangement A device for retaining a USB connector in a USB port applies a force either to the walls of the USB port such that the walls of the USB port frictionally engage with the USB connector to retain it in position, or to a finger in a top surface of the USB port such that the finger is biased into an opening of in the USB connector to operate as a catch to prevent the unwanted removal of the USB connector from the USB port.
US08092242B2	Socket with an easily operated cover A socket, mounted on a printed circuit board for electrically connecting an IC package, comprises an insulative housing receiving a plurality of contacts, a linking member and a cover. The insulative housing and the linking member are mounted on the printed circuit board, and the linking member is located beside of the insulative housing. The cover is formed with a first end pivotally assembled to the linking member and a second end opposite to the first end. The second end is provided with a tongue portion to be retained to the printed circuit board by a screw and a projecting piece extending from a side of the tongue portion to be handled by operator to lift and open the cover.
US08092239B2	Substrate fixing member and electronic device A substrate fixing member that fixes a first substrate having an insertion hole into which a second substrate having mutually opposing an end portion is to be inserted, the substrate fixing member including a fixing member main body portion that covers a top surface portion of a connector having the insertion hole and has a through-hole which the substrate is to be passed through and a substrate support portion having a groove portion slidably holding an end portion of the substrate when the substrate is passed through the through-hole and the insertion hole to connect a substrate-side connection terminal to a connector-side terminal.
US08092238B2	Universal serial bus interface A universal serial bus (USB) interface includes a positive differential signal pin including first and second sections, a button mounted to the USB interface, and an elastic piece. The button includes a driving rod with a distal end resisting against the second section, a receiving room is defined below the second section to receive the elastic piece, so the second section is clamped between the elastic piece and the driving rod and is electrically connected to the first section. When the button is pressed, the driving rod of the button causes the second section to deform the elastic piece, so the second section moves away from the first section. When the button is released, the elastic piece is restored to return the first section to the second section, so the first and second sections are electrically connected again.
US08092237B2	Electrical connection bar and adapted connection device An electrical coupling bar is described. The coupling bar includes an electrically insulating support with two parallel grooves and metallic strips engaged in the grooves. The metallic strips project out of the grooves with opposite interior faces delimiting a free engagement space. Further, the other surfaces of metallic strips of the coupling bar are covered for protection.
US08092235B2	Connector assembly with grouped contacts A connector assembly includes a housing and a plurality of contacts. The housing has a plurality of channels that extend between a housing mating end and an opposing back end. The housing mating end is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts each have a plurality of contact mating ends and a plurality of contact mounting ends. Each of the contact mating ends extends through one of the channels and is configured to provide a plurality of electrical connections with the mating connector. The contact mounting ends of each contact are arranged in a group and configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The contact mating ends are separated from one another by a first pitch and the contact mounting ends within each group are separated from one another by a second pitch that is smaller than the first pitch.
US08092229B2	Relay connector A core conductor of a coaxial connector is electrically connected to a terminal electrode which is provided at an end of a surface of a board, and a shell GND of the coaxial connector is electrically connected to a GND electrode which is provided at an end of a back surface of the board in a relay connector. The shell GND has a substantially columnar outer shape. The relay connector includes: a conductive first block having a first surface and a second surface being opposite to the first surface, the first block formed with a through hole, the coaxial connector being provided in the through hole, a part of the shell GND being provided in the through hole, the core conductor of the coaxial connector being projected from the first surface of the first block; and a conductive second block provided with a board rest part on which the board is to be placed, the second block operable to relatively move with respect to the first block and being electrically connected to the first block.
US08092225B1	Device for helping a toddler learn to walk A device for helping a toddler learn to walk that employs a waist belt for a toddler, a waist belt for an adult and a strap assembly that connects the toddler belt and the adult belt. The strap assembly has an adjustable strap, a connecting strap and a strap loop. The adjustable strap has a plurality of buttonholes, a button fastener and hook and loop fastener material on the inner surfaces. The adjustable strap is attached to the toddler belt, doubles through a strap loop, and fixes a length by securing a button in a buttonhole and linking the hook and loop fastener material on the inside surfaces of the adjustable strap. The device allows the adult to support the toddler without engaging the adult's hands or the toddler's hands and allows the adult to remain in a full upright position to avoid strain on the lower back.
US08092222B2	Dynamic gastric model This invention provides an apparatus for simulating digestion of a foodstuff, which apparatus comprises: (a) an outer containment vessel into which fluid can be introduced and removed via at least one orifice, and (b) an inner digestion chamber comprising a rigid portion through which the foodstuff can be introduced and a flexible portion which tapers from the rigid portion to an aperture from which the foodstuff can be removed wherein said inner chamber is securable within the outer vessel such that reversible alteration of fluid pressure within the outer vessel causes reversible partial compression of the flexible portion for mixing foodstuff present therein. The invention also provides systems and methods for simulating digestion of a foodstuff.
US08092221B2	Screen reader list view presentation method A speech-generating product for controlling the output of tabular or other composite data in a computer having a screen reader function. The product provides a customized control presentation tool that configures a screen reader to present tabular or other composite data to a user in the order most useful to the user. The tool includes the ability to configure the screen reader independently for both speech and Braille output on a control by control basis. This customized control presentation is saved in permanent storage. Consequently, each time the screen reader is presented with this instance of the control, the screen reader immediately knows how to present it to the user. The software product allows a user to modify the output by the screen reader of the data according to preferences configurable by the user. These preferences may include the ability to skip display information, to specify the order in which the screen reader presents the display information and the ability to alter the headers associated with the display information. By altering the headers the user may annotate the headers to provide additional information about the underlying data. The headers may also be output in an alternative voice by a speech synthesizer to queue a user to a change of information. The user may also specify that certain display information is sent by the screen reader to one display device while other display information is sent to an alternative display device.
US08092218B2	Arrangement for fastening a dental prosthesis to a male bar The arrangement for fastening a dental prosthesis to a male bar including a female housing that is connectable to the dental prosthesis and at least two inserts that are insertable into the female housing and extend over the male bar when the female housing is attached to the latter. The arrangement allows a simpler adjustment of the retention force that retains the female housing on the male bar.
US08092213B2	Flame arrester insert and process for its production In a flame arrester insert comprising two metal strips (1, 2) wound together, of which a first metal strip (1) is a smooth strip and the second metal strip (2) is a grooved strip having defined grooving, so that they rest on each other at defined contact points (3) and, between the contact points (3), form defined gaps (4) for the passage of a fluid, the stability can be increased and corrosion prevention can be implemented even with inexpensive materials by the metal strips (1, 2) resting directly on each other at the contact points (3) and, outside the contact points (3), having a surface coating (5) which, close to the contact points, is a uniform joint coating of the surfaces of the metal strips (1, 2) that point toward each other.
US08092211B2	Vertical type injection molding machine A vertical type injection molding machine includes a fixed mold, a movable body, a lift mechanism, a plurality of weights, and a plurality of pulleys is provided. The fixed mold is supported by a support frame provided on a base. The movable body includes a movable mold. The movable mold is approached to and moved away from the fixed mold. The lift mechanism lifts and lowers the movable body, thereby causing the movable mold to approach and move away from the fixed mold. The weights function as a counterweight of the movable body. The total weight of the weights is the same as the weight of the movable body. Each weight is coupled to the movable body by a wire. The pulleys are provided in an upper portion of the support frame. One of the wires is placed over each pulley. Each wire connects the corresponding weight to the movable body.
US08092208B2	Gas-assisted mold surface heating system A gas-assisted mold surface heating system is disclosed, which comprise: an air supply, for providing air with a flow rate larger than 300 L/min; a heater, for heating air to a temperature higher than 400° C.; a mold, configured with a mold cavity, an inlet and an outlet; and an air storage tank; wherein, the inlet is connected to the heater through a pipeline for allowing the air from the air supply to flow into the cavity after being heated by the heater and thus to be for heating up the surface of the mold cavity while the heated air is being enabled to flow out of the cavity through the outlet and into the air storage tank. With the aforesaid system, surface temperature of the mold cavity can be raised to a point higher than a glass transmission point in a short period of time.
US08092204B2	Apparatus and method for inflation extrusion molding of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet The present invention provides an apparatus for inflation extrusion molding of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet, the apparatus including: one or a plurality of extruders; a die into which one or a plurality of resin materials including at least a resin material for forming a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and extruded respectively from the extruders are respectively introduced and which extrudes from an ejection opening the resin materials into an inflated cylindrical shape having a predetermined diameter in accordance with an inflation method; and two stabilizers facing each other at a predetermined angle so as to upwardly approach each other, and defining a space therebetween through which the cylindrically-shaped resin materials extruded from the die are passed to be deformed into a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet in a flattened elliptical shape having a predetermined width, in which the stabilizers each have a plurality of air floating portions each of which blows air toward the resin materials; and the stabilizers rotate in one direction around the central axis of the cylindrically-shaped resin materials.
US08092202B2	Propeller pump system for handed propeller applications A pump system includes an inlet port, a discharge port, a drive aperture and a drain aperture. The drive aperture and the drain aperture are interchangeable such that the pump system may be utilized on either a clockwise or counterclockwise driven propeller. A propeller gearbox driven pump drive shaft is mounted into either aperture such that the aperture which receives the drive shaft becomes the drive aperture while the other aperture becomes the drain aperture. By allowing either pumping gear to become the driver gear by receiving the drive shaft, the pump system may accommodate either a clockwise or counterclockwise propeller gearbox.
US08092201B2	Vane pump with coated vanes Provided is a vane pump. In the vane pump, a high-hardness main coating layer is provided on a distal end portion of each vane, and an intermediate coating layer having an intermediate hardness between a hardness of a base material of the vane and a hardness of the main coating layer is provided between the base material of the vane and the main coating layer.
US08092199B2	Scroll compressor including a plurality of shoulder sections Provided is a scroll compressor that is capable of three-dimensional compression, ensuring a required wrap strength while increasing a shoulder section height of a spiral wrap, and facilitating wrap processing. The scroll compressor includes shoulder sections at an end surface and a bottom surface of spiral wraps of a paired fixed scroll member and revolving scroll member and configured to be capable of three-dimensional compression in a circumferential direction and a height direction of the spiral wraps by setting a spiral wrap height of the spiral wraps further toward the outside of the shoulder sections greater than the spiral wrap height of the inward side, and wherein the shoulder sections provided on the end surface and the bottom surface at the spiral wrap are constructed of a plurality of shoulder sections, and the heights of the shoulder sections are set to heights in which base stresses at the shoulder sections are substantially equal.
US08092196B2	Structure for supporting a sleeve member in automatic transmission A sleeve supporting structure for an automatic transmission, including a sleeve member disposed on a radial outside of an input shaft, a rotational shaft portion disposed in a motor, an oil pump housing, and a stationary member supporting an outer circumferential surface of the rotational shaft portion and including a projection that projects toward a side of the oil pump. The sleeve member has one axial end portion overlapped with the rotational shaft portion in the radial direction thereof and an opposite axial end portion meshing with an inner gear of the oil pump, and is supported by an inner circumferential surface of the oil pump housing and an inner circumferential surface of the rotational shaft portion. The projection of the stationary member is fitted onto an outer circumferential surface of the oil pump housing so as to form a faucet joint in cooperation therewith.
US08092194B2	Support of a pump drive wheel on the side of the starting component with an off-axis pump arrangement in an automatic transmission A support for a pump drive wheel (4) on the clutch side of a pump with an off-axis pump arrangement in an automatic transmission, particularly in a dual clutch transmission, in which the pump drive wheel (4) is supported on the centering plate (7) of the pump (2).
US08092193B2	Self lubricating pump A self-lubricating water-cooled piston-style water pump has a unitary pump housing with a crankcase in direct water communication with the water pump inlet. A low pressure chamber is in direct water communication with the crankcase. A compression chamber is in direct pressurized water communication with a high pressure water manifold through a one-way valve. A high pressure water pump outlet extends outwardly from the manifold to the exterior of the housing. A crankshaft is connected to a connecting rod and a plunger rod, both of which are lubricated and water-cooled in the crankcase. A compression plunger has water channels therethrough connected to the plunger rod and in water communication with the low pressure chamber. The plunger is reciprocal within the compression chamber. A second one-way valve is on the plunger in the compression chamber to let water into the compression chamber.
US08092191B2	Control system for reciprocating device A control system for a reciprocating device which includes a switching valve for directing fluid supply under pressure to one of two drive lines in an alternating manner, means for alternating the switching valve, and an exhaust circuit including and exhaust outlet, a first flow restrictor disposed between one drive line and the exhaust outlet, and a second flow restrictor disposed between the other drive line and the exhaust outlet. The system may include a selection valve for alternately connecting one of two drivelines to the exhaust outlet.
US08092190B2	Systems and methods for reducing pump downtime by determining rotation speed using a variable speed drive Systems and methods for using variable speed drives to restart downhole submersible pump motors. In one embodiment, a downhole pump is controlled using a variable speed drive that includes a control system configured to detect interruptions in the operation of the pump system. After an interruption that requires the restart of the pump motor, the control system determines the reverse rotational speed of the pump motor and restarts the motor when this speed is sufficiently low. The control system may be configured to reduce the output voltage of the variable speed drive and sweep through a range of output frequencies to determine the frequency at which the current drawn by the motor is lowest. This is the frequency at which the drive's output matches the speed of the motor and the apparent impedance of the motor is highest. When the speed is low enough, the motor is restarted.
US08092187B2	Flatback insert for turbine blades A blade for the use in the generation of power has a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first shell portion of the blade extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A second shell portion of the blade also extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A root portion of the blade is positioned proximate the wind turbine and a tip portion which extends from the root portion away from the wind turbine. A trailing edge insert is positioned between the first shell portion and the second shell portion proximate the root portion. The trailing edge insert has a surface which extends between and separates the first shell portion from the second shell portion at the trailing edge, such that the insert provides a high lift profile for increased blade efficiency.
US08092183B2	Fan rotor for a turbomachine or a test engine A fan rotor, in particular for a turbomachine, the rotor comprising a disk carrying blades having roots engaged in substantially axial grooves in the outer periphery of the disk, a substantially frustoconical annular spinner mounted on the disk upstream from the blades, and axial retention means for retaining the blades on the disk in the upstream direction, which retention means are formed integrally with the spinner.
US08092181B2	Resin cross flow fan and manufacturing method thereof A resin cross flow fan and a method for manufacturing a resin cross flow fan are provided in which an annealing step can be omitted and the number of circular disks can be reduced, and which provides improved fan strength and air blowing performance. A resin cross flow fan is disposed with a plurality of blades and a plurality of plates. The plurality of blades are annually disposed about a rotation axis. Insertion portions each constituted by a hole or a groove into which each blade is inserted and projecting portions that projects from the periphery of the insertion portions in a direction of the rotation axis are formed on each of the plurality of plates disposed spaced apart in the direction of the rotation axis. Each blade is fixed to the projecting portions by laser welding.
US08092178B2	Turbine blade for a gas turbine engine The turbine blade comprises an airfoil having opposite pressure and suction sidewalls extending from a platform to a free end tip and in a chordwise direction from a leading edge to a trailing edge. The blade has two winglets extending in a chordwise direction from adjacent the leading edge to adjacent the trailing edge. Each winglet extends from the pressure sidewall upwardly and outwardly from the sidewall to provide a channel between them. Each winglet has a free end extending laterally beyond a surface defined by the pressure sidewall offset.
US08092177B2	Turbine airfoil cooling system with diffusion film cooling hole having flow restriction rib A cooling system for a turbine airfoil of a turbine engine having at least one diffusion film cooling hole positioned in an outer wall defining the turbine airfoil is disclosed. The diffusion film cooling hole includes first and second sections. The first section may function as a metering section, and the second section may function as a diffusion section. The second section may include flow restriction ribs that direct the flow of cooling fluids in disproportionately larger amounts proximate to the downstream side of the diffusion film cooling hole.
US08092167B2	Cooling device for use in metal hot formation A guiding device (2) includes a base (21), a cover (23) and a sidewall (22) cooperatively defining an annular space therein and a passage therethrough. An air inlet (221) is defined in the sidewall communicating with the space for an airflow flowing into the space. A plurality of guiding plates (24) are arranged in the space around the passage. An air outlet (29) is defined between two neighboring guiding plates for the airflow flowing out the space into the passage. The airflow is distributed into a plurality of even streams by the guiding plates. An atomizer (4) is connected with the space via the air inlet. The atomizer produces a high-pressured water vapor which is taken by the airflow to cool an aluminum profile produced by an extrusions press (6) and moving through the passage.
US08092166B2	Fan A fan assembly for creating an air current is described. The fan assembly includes a nozzle mounted on a base housing a device for creating an air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow from the base, a mouth through which the air flow is emitted, the mouth being defined by facing surfaces of the nozzle, and spacers for spacing apart the facing surfaces of the nozzle. The nozzle extends substantially orthogonally about an axis to define an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The fan provides an arrangement producing an air current and a flow of cooling air created without requiring a bladed fan. The spacers can provide for a reliable, reproducible nozzle of the fan assembly and performance of the fan assembly.
US08092162B2	Turbocharger assembly having heat shield-centering arrangements A turbocharger for internal combustion engines, having a heat shield disposed between a turbine housing and center housing of the turbocharger for shielding the center housing from exhaust gases passing through the turbine. The heat shield in one embodiment is centered on a generally conical surface of the center housing, by engagement between the conical surface and a centering portion of the heat shield. In another embodiment, the heat shield has a generally conical portion that is non-axisymmetric, having a plurality of radially enlarged lobes that engage a radially inwardly facing surface of the turbine housing for centering the heat shield.
US08092161B2	Thermal shield at casing joint A thermal shield for reducing thermal stress induced proximate to a first joint formed between adjacent engine casing components in a gas turbine engine. The thermal shield includes a cover structure for covering a radially inner portion of at least one of the engine casing components. The cover structure is disposed proximate to the first joint and attached to the respective engine casing component so as to limit exposure of a covered inner portion of the engine casing component to hot gases in an interior volume defined by the engine casing components. A thermally insulating layer is disposed between the cover structure and the engine casing component for effecting a reduced amount of heat transfer to the covered inner portion of the engine casing component from the hot gases in the interior volume defined by the engine casing components.
US08092160B2	Turbine shroud thermal distortion control A shroud suitable for use in a gas turbine engine exhibits substantially uniform thermal growth.
US08092159B2	Feeding film cooling holes from seal slots A cooling arrangement for a first stage nozzle of a turbine includes a slot formed in a forward face of the first stage nozzle, the slot opening in a direction facing a combustor transition piece and adapted to receive a flange portion of a seal extending between the first stage nozzle and the transition piece. The slot has a closed end formed with at least one cooling cavity provided with at least one cooling passageway extending between the cavity and an external surface of the first stage nozzle.
US08092155B2	Light-emitting fan A light-emitting fan includes a frame, a vane, at least one flexible circuit structures, and a plurality of light-emitting elements. The van is pivotally provided on the frame. The van has a hub and a plurality of blades connected to the hub. The flexible circuit structure is circumferentially provided on the frame. The light-emitting elements are provided on the flexible circuit structure to emit light respectively. With the above arrangement, the light-emitting elements can be combined with the frame easily via the flexible circuit structure.
US08092154B2	Integrated fan with pump and heat exchanger cooling capability Disclosed is a compact and integrated fan, pump, and heat exchanger system where air-cooling is performed via the fan, liquid cooling is performed via a pump, and the drilled pump diffusers act as a heat exchanger. The pump has drilled diffusers through which liquid passes into the volute, the drilled diffusers are streamlined and thus act as fan stator blades. Hot liquid is centrifuged and carried inside the drilled diffusers while air flows around the outside surfaces of the drilled diffusers. A heat transfer occurs where heat transfers from the hot liquid into the air stream.
US08092153B2	Bypass air scoop for gas turbine engine A gas turbine engine has a plurality of radial struts in a bypass duct. At least one strut has a scoop incorporated with the fairing of the strut and in communication with an air passage of an engine secondary air system. The scoop faces a bypass air flow to scoop a portion of the bypass air flow using available dynamic pressure in the bypass duct. Scooped air may be provided, for example, to an active tip clearance control apparatus in a long duct turbofan engine.
US08092151B2	Wind turbine with liquid medium distribution system A wind turbine with a tower, a nacelle, a main shaft, a hub and blades is provided. The wind turbine also includes a liquid medium distribution system for transport of liquid medium in the wind turbine. The liquid medium distribution system has a first distribution sub-system located in the tower, a second distribution sub-system located in the nacelle, a third distribution sub-system located in the hub, a tower-nacelle-interface connecting the first distribution sub-system to the second distribution sub-system, and a nacelle-hub-interface connecting the second distribution sub-system to the third distribution sub-system. Further, a method of transporting liquid medium in a wind turbine is provided.
US08092150B2	Gas turbine with axial thrust balance A method for axial thrust control of a gas turbine, and a gas turbine with a device for controlling axial thrust are provided. A gas turbine, with regard to aerodynamic forces and pressure forces, which exert an axial force upon the rotor, is configured such that at no-load and low partial load it has a negative thrust, and at high load it has a positive thrust. In order to ensure a resulting positive thrust upon the thrust bearing within the entire load range of the gas turbine, an additional thrust is applied in a controlled manner. The additional thrust for example can be controlled in dependence upon the gas turbine load. The resulting thrust force at full load is consequently less than in the case of a conventionally designed gas turbine without thrust balance.
US08092144B2	Method and installation for assembling palletizable products The invention concerns a method which consists in cyclically: transferring a first row of products (3) between the station for preparing said products (6) and the pre-assembly station (7), at a speed V; transferring similarly a second row of products (3) onto said pre-assembly table (7), and in order to manage the docking of said second row with the row of products already set on said pre-assembly table (7), moving said set row at a speed v selected between zero and V, depending on the type or products (3); transferring, as the case may be, another row of products (3) onto the table (7), and, when the number of rows is reached to obtain said layer, transferring said layer onto the setting table (13) of the palletizing station (14). The installation comprises transfer means consisting of pushers (25) and (26) mobile between different stations, driven at suitable speeds. The invention also concerns, at the pre-assembly station (7), a modular endless belt which is supported and moves on a slider bed, said belt being mobile, driven at a speed which is related to that of the pushers (25) and (26).
US08092142B2	Recreational vehicle ramp and storage lift Improvements in a vertical recreational vehicle ramp and lift that allows a recreational vehicle to be stored and transported in a vertical orientation. A cable from the lift mechanism connects to a recreational vehicle. The cable in then retracted to lift the recreational vehicle into a vertical orientation. This method of storage reduces the amount of space that is required to store a recreational vehicle. The storage method can be used in a garage, on the back or within a mobile transportation vehicle. The lifting device can be a powered or manual crank device that lifts the recreational vehicle. The ramp can be used to transport other vehicles into the truck and also provides protection of the wheels of the recreational vehicle against here the vehicle is stored.
US08092140B2	Method and apparatus for container storage and container retrieval A container storage and retrieval system (1) has first, second and third storage zones (2, 3, 4) for storing containers. The first storage zone (2) stores containers of product in frames (6), each frame (6) including a plurality of stacks (7) of containers. The second storage zone (3) stores containers of product in stacks (7). An automated retrieval system retrieves selected stacks of containers from the second storage zone (3) and replenishes the second zone (3) with containers by receiving frames (6). The third storage zone (4) includes a second automated retrieval system for retrieving selected partial stacks or stacks of containers, and replenishing the third storage zone with containers by receiving stacks from the second storage zone. Orders are collated by transferring a required number of complete frames (6) from the first storage zone (2), a required number of complete stacks (7) from the second storage zone (3) and a required number of stacks (7) or partial stacks from the third zone (4).
US08092137B2	Substrate transfer apparatus and method for controlling down flow The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a substrate through a gate for loading and unloading is provided, and includes a transfer chamber having the gate for loading and unloading the substrate, a transfer system, which is able to move up and down in the transfer chamber and transfers the substrate by accessing each gate, an adjustment section for a gas down flow, which produces the gas down flow in the transfer chamber and is able to adjust a speed of the gas down flow, and a control section for controlling the speed of the gas down flow using the movement speed of the substrate.
US08092132B2	Fastener with anti-rotation clip A fastener with a threaded nut, a clip, a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature. The nut has front and rear surfaces and a first lock structure that is disposed between the front and rear surfaces. The clip has a body, which defines an aperture, a second lock structure and an engagement member. The second lock structure is coupled to the body and engages the first lock structure to axially retain the clip to the nut. The engagement member extends into the aperture in the body. The first engagement feature is coupled to either the nut or the clip and comprises at least one tooth. The second engagement feature is associated with the other one of the nut and the clip and is engaged with the first engagement feature to inhibit rotation between the nut and the clip.
US08092127B2	Reconfigurable pallet A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has several linkage assemblies to position a support element in a desired location for each version of a component. The linkage assemblies each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in the desired location. Securing a locking mechanism on the linkage assemblies prevents movement of the support element when in the desired position. To configure the pallet for another version of the component the locking mechanisms are released, the support elements are moved to another base and the locking mechanisms are secured again for each of the support assemblies.
US08092125B2	Safety device for a peck drill A pneumatic feed drill has a control unit that repeatedly advances and retracts the drill bit in peck cycles while drilling the hole. The drill has a hydraulic damper cylinder with a damper rod protruding from it that limits the speed of advancement of the drill bit. A retainer device is mounted to the damper rod and prevents the damper rod from resetting to its initial position during the peck cycles. The retainer device releases the damper rod to reset when the drill bit has reached total depth. A safety device is pivotally mounted to the housing and has a closure tab that blocks access to the start button of the drill unless the damper rod is in its initial position.
US08092117B2	Hopper insert and road paver A hopper insert is provided for a road paver. The hopper insert includes a funnel-shaped base body formed by four side walls. The upper side of the base body is open and at least three of the side walls extend inwardly therefrom to a bottom opening. One of the side walls includes a side outlet which is open to the bottom opening. The base body or the side outlet is adjustable in a width direction extending along the side wall containing the side outlet. The hopper insert is removably disposed in an integrated hopper of a road paver. The integrated hopper includes a rear wall with a gate that is adjacent the side wall of the hopper insert containing the side outlet. The side outlet is adjustable in the width direction to correspond to the width of the gate.
US08092116B1	Slab raising method A method of raising a slab is described here that uses inflatable hoses to raise slabs needing to be raised, for example, to raise sunken slabs of a roadway to align to their adjacent slabs without closing the roadway and breaking ongoing traffic. The described method of raising a slab makes it more efficient to repair slabs needing to be raised while conventional repairing methods, for example, re-pouring, or mud jacking, which need to close the roadway and interrupt ongoing traffic, are more expensive, time consuming and less effective.
US08092112B2	Dowel assembly for a furniture system A dowel assembly for a furniture system provides a fastener usable in assembling various components in a furniture system. The dowel may be employed to define the relationship between first and second components of the furniture system, such as the relationship between adjoining planar surfaces of adjacent furniture panels. The dowel is fitted with a cam such that the cam provides a non-uniform radius at the interface between the dowel and one of the components. Through selective positioning of the cam about the longitudinal axis of the dowel, the interface between components of the furniture system may be selectively adjusted to ensure flush alignment of contiguous surfaces.
US08092109B2	Applicator distributor of a pasty product Aspects of the invention disclose an applicator distributor of a pasty product that flows by gravity, the applicator distributor comprising a body comprising a main reservoir for said product, a distribution head comprising at least one orifice and a removable cap. The cap forms a means for vertically placing the applicator distributor, and wherein the applicator distributor is a downward-facing applicator distributor, so that the product can flow by gravity to the head, and wherein, the head comprises: a peripheral member forming a means of attachment to said reservoir, a central member comprising a central arch obstructing said main opening and comprising a portion forming an application surface of said product, and at least one flexible element that can be deformed under an axial strain, and can form a secondary reservoir that can house a dose of said product, and that can be filled when said applicator distributor is facing downwards.
US08092108B2	Porous tip liquid applicator having draw fill mechanism A liquid applicator includes an elongated cylindrical body having an end cap within which a plunger is slidably moveable. The cylindrical body defines a bore receiving a plunger seal and piston secured to the interior end of a sliding plunger handle. The remaining end of the cylindrical body is coupled to a porous nib having a flow control valve in communication therewith. The plunger is removable from the piston and sealing plunger following the liquid filling process.
US08092104B2	Tape printing apparatus A tape printing apparatus, comprising a port for connecting to external apparatus; a first memory for storing label data defining at least one label; and a second memory comprising program information.
US08092100B2	Portable optical-fiber processing equipment A portable optical fiber processing apparatus is disclosed. The portable optical fiber processing apparatus of the present invention includes a base (1), which provides a space in which components are installed, and a sheathing stripping unit (10), which is provided on the base and strips sheathing from an optical fiber (R). The apparatus further includes an optical fiber cutting unit (40), which is provided on the base and cuts a portion of the optical fiber, from which the sheathing has been stripped, using a sliding cutter (43) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and a welding unit (50), which is provided on the base and welds junction portions of two optical fibers. The present invention is characterized in that a process of stripping sheathing from an optical fiber and cutting, cleaning and welding processes can be conducted using a single apparatus.
US08092094B2	Rolling bearing slewing connections A rolling bearing slewing connection comprising two race rings arranged concentrically in each other, between which race rings rolling elements roll on associated raceways, one of the race rings having a flexible configuration wherein, as viewed in a longitudinal section, the flexible race ring has a weakened configuration, so that a radial, elastic deformation that is so large that the rolling elements are pre-stressed in the loaded state in the entire peripheral region is possible.
US08092092B2	Guide member A guide member has a ring for mounting a pin with friction and articulation and/or sliding capacity. The member is adapted for mounting in the bore of a support. The ring and/or the pin is subjected, at least at its friction surface, to a surface hardening treatment by diffusion or by structural transformation, followed by finishing surface treatment for reducing the tendency to jamming and to reduce the friction coefficient. The friction surface of the ring, comprising its bore, has arrangements acting as a lubricant reserve. The outer periphery of the ring is joined to an element made from a deformable flexible material suitable for being engaged in the bore of the support.
US08092091B2	Bearing made of sintered copper alloy for a recirculation exhaust gas flow rate control valve A bearing with strength and abrasion resistance for a flow rate control valve of an exhaust gas recirculation system of an internal combustion engine. By using a sintered Cu alloy with a composition consisting of, by mass %, Ni: 10 to 30%, Sn: 5 to 12%, C: 3 to 10%, P: 0.1 to 0.9% and Cu and inevitable impurities as the balance, the bearing exhibits a thermal expansion coefficient corresponding to that of a shaft made of austenitic stainless steel. As a result, a bearing with strength and abrasion resistance under high temperature conditions is obtained.
US08092087B2	Bag with adjustable strap adapted to be carried on shoulders or back A bag with an adjustable strap configured for a holding the bag in a variety of different positions. The bag includes a bag body having a bottom, a front side, a back side and an opening opposite the bottom. The bag body includes two primary fasteners on the back side in the vicinity of the opening. An adjustable strap with two ends is fixed at both ends to the back side of the bag body in the vicinity of the bottom. The adjustable strap includes two end sections adjacent the ends, two extension sections adjacent the end sections and a middle section between the extension sections. A first secondary fastener is disposed between the end sections and extension sections and a second secondary fastener is disposed between the extension sections and middle section. The first secondary fasteners are configured to attach to the primary fasteners such that the middle section and extension sections form a long shoulder strap between the primary fasteners. The two second secondary fasteners are configured to attach to the primary fasteners of the bag body such that each extension section and adjacent end section form a backpack strap.
US08092083B2	Temperature sensor with digital bandgap A system comprises a temperature sensor generate multiple base-emitter voltage signals by sequentially providing various currents to a transistor, and a system controller to determine a differential voltage signal according to the multiple base-emitter voltage signals, the differential voltage signal proportional to an environmental temperature associated with the transistor.
US08092082B2	Detachable probe cover for ear thermometer and manufacturing method thereof This present invention discloses a detachable probe cover for an ear thermometer and a manufacturing method thereof. The detachable probe cover for the ear thermometer is for being mounted onto a measuring probe of the ear thermometer, wherein a combining mechanism is provided at a bottom of the measuring probe and the detachable probe cover comprises a main body of a hollow structure and a base, in which the main body has an open end and a closed end opposite to the open end, and the hollow structure has a diameter gradually reducing from the open end toward the closed end.
US08092080B2	Wireless telemetry circuit structure for measuring temperature in high temperature environments A circuit affixed to a moving part of an engine for sensing and processing the temperature of the part. The circuit generates a signal representative of the temperature sensed by a thermocouple (110) and amplified by an amplifier (112). A square wave oscillator (113) with a temperature sensitive capacitor (C8) varies its frequency in response to changes of a local temperature of the circuit. A chopper (114, J27) converts the output of the amplifier into an alternating current signal. The chopper is gated by the square wave oscillator and a second input is coupled to an output of the amplifier. Thus, the chopper has an output signal having a frequency representative of the local temperature and an amplitude representative of the thermocouple temperature, whereby the combined signals represent the true temperature of the part.
US08092078B2	Measurement of melting points of multiple samples In a method of measuring a temperature value associated with melting, softening or decomposition of sample substances, an array of samples is deposited onto a support tray. The support tray is placed onto a heating device provided with temperature sensing means, the support tray is illuminated, and the array of samples is observed by a imaging device. WNle varying the temperature of the heating device, the image data from the imaging device is fed to an image recording device and temperature values associated with each feed of image data are also recorded. The image data is reviewed to detect changes in the image, such as image intensity, at each or selected sample locations, and the temperature of the heating device at an image change associated with a change in state of a sample is logged. Image processing software may be used to detect changes in the image, for example in the intensity of the image, at each sample location. The method may be used as a means for rapidly obtaining a melting point value for comparison of the physical characteristics of the members of a library of samples, especially polymer samples.
US08092070B2	Gravimetric blender with power hopper cover A gravimetric blender has a frame, at least one material storage hopper at the top of the frame including a hopper cover, a weigh bin located within the frame, below the hopper, for receipt of material from the hopper to be weighed and being adapted for downward discharge of the material in the bio bin after the material received from the hopper has been weighed, at least one load cell connecting the weigh bin to the frame for sensing the weight of contents of the weigh bin, a mixer within the frame below the hopper, for mixing material weighed in the weigh bin after that material falls downwardly from the weigh bin to the mixer, and a guide adapted for vertical movement of the hopper cover therealong between positions which the cover contacts and thereby closes the hopper and at which the cover is spaced vertically above the hopper so that the hopper is open at the top.
US08092067B2	Display panel and a light source used therein A display panel and a light source device used therein are provided. The display panel includes a light-guide thin-film circuit substrate, a light source and a polarizing layer. The light-guide thin-film circuit substrate has a light entrance end and a light exit top surface, and the light source is disposed corresponding to the light entrance end. The polarizing layer is disposed on the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate and parallels the light exit top surface of the light-guide thin-film circuit substrate. The light produced by the light source enters the circuit substrate through the light entrance end, guided and transmitted through the circuit substrate, and then leaves the circuit substrate through the light exit top surface and enters the polarizing layer. The light after passing through the polarizing layer is turned into a polarized light having flat light source effect as a backlight source for the system. A polarizer may even be disposed between the light source and the light entrance end, so the light is turned into polarized light before entering the circuit substrate.
US08092066B2	Surface light source device, lighting device and image display device A surface light source device improves the quality of illumination without producing dark lines between neighboring light guide plates even when a plurality of light guide plates are used in combination. This surface light source device is formed by combining a plurality of LED/light guide plate units, and light guide plate (4) has: light emitting area (8) of a square shape from a plan view; extended area (10) which is positioned extending outward from a pair of neighboring sides (8a) and (8b) in four sides (8a) to (8d) defining the outer rim of this light emitting area (8); and incidence surface area (11) on which light from LED (6) is incident. Each light guide plate (4) has a symmetrical shape with respect to one of the diagonal lines of light emitting area (8), and is combined by making its orientation uniform in the same direction. At this time, sides (8c) and (8d) in which the extended area of light emitting area (8) of one light guide plate (4) are aligned with sides (8a) and (8b) in which extended areas (10) of other neighboring light guide plates (4) are formed, and extended areas (10) of other light guide plates (4) are placed in the back surface side of light emitting area (8) of one light guide plate (4).
US08092057B2	Device for automatic switching of a touring shutter by extreme travel of the height adjustment of a headlight A device for automatic switching of the touring diaphragm by an extreme travel of the height controls of the headlight is provided with a mechanism for changing the spatial distribution of the light, consisting of a projector (1), attached by fixed hinges (2) to the body of the headlight (3). The adjustable hinge (4) enables movement of the projector (1) relative to the body of the headlight (3) by means of an actuator (5), so that in the extreme position there is a collision of the two-armed lever (6) with the body (3) and its rotation on a pivot (7), resulting in a change in the shape of the light beam. A spring (8) can be used to ensure the extreme positions of the travel.
US08092055B2	Apparatus to provide variable illuminated signals for the presence of bicycles and other vehicles Microprocessor-controlled light emitting diode (LED) arrays are built into an extruded tubular lens within a mast that is connected to a base assembly. A means of mounting, which may be an adjustable clamp, permits the base assembly to be connected to a seat post or other mounting point on a bicycle or other vehicle. The tubular lens allows for substantial dispersion of light, and various light patterns produced by the arrays may be selected and those patterns alternated automatically to achieve greater visibility of the vehicle to surrounding motorists. A handle within the base assembly allows a rider to lower the mast from its vertical operating position easily and pivotally up to 90 degrees parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame to facilitate mounting and dismounting the vehicle.
US08092052B2	Light emitting diode package for projection system A light emitting diode (LED) package for a projection system is provided, which includes a package body having an inner space formed therein and having an open upper portion; and an LED chip mounted onto a bottom of the package body, wherein the package body includes a socket coupling portion formed around the upper portion of the package body to have a certain corresponding thickness and height allowing the socket coupling portion to be inserted into the socket of the optical engine.
US08092047B2	LED lamp An LED light lamp includes a lamp body, an adjusting rod, a number of light panels, and at least one rheostat. The lamp body defines a chamber therein. The adjusting rod includes a sliding bar, and an adjustable panel extending outwards from and surrounding an end of the sliding bar. The sliding bar is slidably received in the chamber of the lamp body. The adjustable panel includes an annular periphery. Each light panel includes a number of LED chips distributed on the light panel, and is pivotally mounted on the lamp body and against the annular periphery of the adjustable panel. A rheostat is electrically coupled into a power supply circuit of the LED chips. The resistance of the rheostat is adjusted to control the current flowing through the LED chips by the sliding bar when the sliding bar slides in the lamp body.
US08092046B2	LED lighting device An LED lighting device includes a circuit board, a plurality of LED units, a waterproof layer and a middle layer. The LED units are disposed on the circuit board by surface mounted way. The light beam emitted from the LED units emits from the light-emitting surface. The waterproof layer wraps the circuit board and the LED units. The middle layer is located between the light-emitting surface and the water-proof layer. The middle layer extends from a direction of the LED units being disposed on the circuit board so that the middle layer fully covers the light-emitting surface. The light beams passing through the light-emitting surface enters into the waterproof layer via the middle layer. Thereby, the middle layer is located between the LED units and the waterproof layer to make the color of the light beam be more uniform.
US08092044B1	LED light assembly and related methods A light emitting diode (LED) assembly. Implementations of an LED light assembly may include a base having a circuit including a one or more LEDs, a thermally conductive polymer support coupled to the circuit, and a non-thermally conductive polymer member coupled to the thermally conductive polymer support. A non-thermally conductive polymer lens cover may be coupled to the non-thermally conductive polymer member. The non-thermally conductive polymer lens cover may be configured to enclose the circuit of the base when coupled to the non-thermally conductive polymer member.
US08092042B2	Shield member in LED apparatus An LED apparatus for illumination toward a preferential side in a downward and outward direction including a shield member in the form of a layer positioned over LED packages and secondary lens members. The shield member has a shield portion and a substantially planar non-shield portion thereabout. In preferred embodiments, the shield portion extends over a part of the lens portion of the secondary lens member. A cover preferably secures the shield member with respect to the secondary lens member, the primary lens and the LED package, the shield member preferably being sandwiched between the cover and the flange of the secondary lens member.
US08092040B2	Multi-directional lighting fixture The multi-directional lighting fixture includes a lighting fixture having a substantially elongated opaque housing with first and second ends with an open top for emitting light in an upward direction and a longitudinal slot along the bottom surface of the housing extending between the first and second ends. The longitudinal slot includes a shielding material, such as a louver or cover, with a predetermined degree of light translucence. The housing has a substantially elliptical cross section tapering towards one end of the housing. The ends of the housing have elliptical translucent members that can transmit lighting horizontally and radially outward from the interior of the housing. Two or more housings can be coupled together in series.
US08092036B2	Floor light The present invention relates to a floor panel and a flooring with a preferably continuous and unbroken front face, which is at least partially light transmitting and which has a light pattern/sign at the front face.
US08092033B2	Illumination assist device and electronic device using the same An illumination assist device used for an electronic device having a flash lamp includes an optical plate and a cover. The optical plate is positioned between the flash lamp and the cover. The cover includes a light transmission board and a plurality of reflection sidewalls extending from a periphery of the light transmission board. The optical plate is surrounded by the plurality of reflection sidewalls. The invention also provides an electronic device using the illumination assist device.
US08092032B2	LED lighting array assembly A lighting array assembly has a plurality of support members facing different directions and on which emitters are mounted. Each support member has an emitter circuit thereon in operative association with at least one emitter and has a lighting center point. The emitters on each support member are positioned together around the lighting center point. The number of emitters mounted on each of the outer surfaces is determined by the light specified in each direction to meet the desired lighting distribution configuration in each direction. A method of configuring an emitter lighting array assembly includes selecting the desired lighting distribution configuration to achieve a desired lighting distribution.
US08092028B2	Light source, and image display apparatus, monitoring apparatus, and illumination apparatus using the same A light source that emits light includes light source units, each emitting a plurality of light beams parallel to one another, the plurality of light beams including first and second light beams, and a beam distance adjustment element that is an optical element made of a light-transmissive material. The beam distance adjustment element is configured to adjust the distance between the first and second light beams. The beam distance adjustment element includes a first incidence plane on which the first light beam is incident, a first exit plane that is parallel to the first incidence plane and from which the first light beam exits, a second incidence plane on which the second light beam is incident, and a second exit plane that is parallel to the second incidence plane and from which the second light beam exits. The first and second light beams intersect in the beam distance adjustment element.
US08092024B2	Eye measurement apparatus and methods of using same An apparatus for measuring a subject's eye having an instrument axis, comprising a slit projector for projecting slits of light, at least one sensor. The apparatus being adapted to form a first image of light from a first slit on the at least one sensor after the light scatters from the eye along a first pathway. The apparatus adapted to form a second image of light from the first slit on the at least one sensor after the light scatters from the eye along a second pathway. The apparatus comprising a processor operatively coupled to receive the first image and the second image, the processor adapted to perform a projective transformation of the second image and to combine data from the first image and the second image, after it is transformed, to form a third image.
US08092023B2	Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) methods for imaging and measuring ocular tear film layer thickness(es) Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image. The resulting image can be processed and analyzed to measure a TFLT.
US08092022B2	Opthalmology photographing apparatus A fundus camera includes an illumination unit to illuminate an ocular fundus of a subject's eye, an autofluorescent exciter filter insertable into and retractable from an illumination optical path of the illumination unit, an observation and photographing unit to receive reflection light from the ocular fundus illuminated by the illumination unit and form an ocular fundus image, an autofluorescent barrier filter insertable into and retractable from an observation and photographing optical path, an image capturing unit to capture an ocular fundus image, and a calculation unit to calculate image data, wherein the calculation unit converts the ocular fundus image which is illuminated using the autofluorescent exciter filter and captured by a color image capturing unit as a color image, in a state that no autofluorescent barrier filter is inserted into the observation and photographing unit, into a monochromatic image from specific color data of each of the pixels.
US08092021B1	On-axis illumination for iris imaging The present invention provides a rapid, high quality iris imaging system. In one embodiment, on-axis illumination is used. A single steering mechanism steers both the camera and the illumination, without parallax issues. The illumination beam can be combined along the camera's optical axis before or after the fine steering and focus correction mechanism. In a pre-correction configuration, the iris illumination spot can be reduced in size to be only slightly larger than the iris. In both the pre and post-correction configuration, the eye safety limits will be most critical at the subject, which allows for maximization of the illumination flux.
US08092019B2	Non-contact ultrasonic tonometer A non-contact ultrasonic tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure of an examinee's eye in non-contact manner by use of an ultrasonic wave comprises: a probe including a vibrator for making the ultrasonic wave incident on the eye and a sensor for detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected from the eye; a detection unit which detects an alignment state of the probe with respect to the eye; a determination unit which determines whether the alignment state is proper or not based on a detection result of the detection unit; a trigger signal generation unit which generates a trigger signal to start measurement based on a determination result of the determination unit; and a control unit which controls the probe to emit the ultrasonic wave based on generation of the trigger signal.
US08092018B2	Non-contact ultrasonic tonometer A non-contact ultrasonic tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure of an examinee's eye, in non-contact manner by use of an ultrasonic wave comprises: a probe including a vibrator for making the ultrasonic wave incident on the examinee's eye and a sensor for detecting the ultrasonic wave reflected from the examinee's eye; and an observation optical system for observing an anterior segment of the eye, wherein the probe is placed in an optical path of the observation optical system, and the observation optical system forms an image of the anterior segment through a surrounding region of the probe.
US08092010B2	Baby and toddler sunglasses Baby and toddler sunglasses comprising: frames having lenses; said frames secured around the user's head by a band; said band secured to said frames by a securing piece; said sunglasses having a sound chip; said sound chip attached to said band.
US08092003B2	Digital printing system Systems and methods for digitally printing images onto substrates are provided using digital inks and catalysts which initiate and/or accelerate curing of the inks on the substrates. The ink and catalyst are kept separate from each other while inside the heads of an inkjet printer and combine only after being discharged therefrom. The system produces high-quality, high-resolution images on substrates that may not normally receptive to low-viscosity digital inks.
US08092001B2	Liquid jetting apparatus A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a head; an ink storage chamber communicating with the head; a gas distributing chamber in which a gas introducing hole is formed; a buffer chamber in which a communicating hole for communicating with the gas distributing chamber, and an atmosphere opening hole for opening to the atmosphere are formed; a combination valve which is capable of opening and closing the gas introducing hole and the communicating hole; a gas introducing mechanism which introduces the compressed air through the gas introducing hole to the head to jet the ink forcibly, and a positive-pressure control valve which opens the atmosphere opening hole when a pressure in the buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined value. It is possible to operate a positive-pressure purge while suppressing an excessive increase in the pressure inside the liquid storage chamber, without increasing a size and a cost of the apparatus.
US08091995B2	Liquid container, container holder and liquid consuming apparatus A liquid container that has a container body storing a liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus and that is detachably mounted on a container mounting portion of the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein a liquid supply port for sending out the liquid to be supplied to the liquid consuming apparatus is formed on a front end surface in an insertion direction of the container body having a substantially rectangular shape, wherein a circuit board having a contact point with the liquid consuming apparatus is formed on one side surface perpendicular to one corresponding short side of the front end surface in the insertion direction, and wherein a container fixation structure for releasably regulating a movement of the container body in a direction opposite to the insertion direction thereof in cooperation with an apparatus fixation structure formed on the container mounting portion is formed on the other side surface perpendicular to the other corresponding short side of the front end surface in the insertion direction in a state where the container body is mounted on the container mounting portion against an urging force in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.
US08091993B2	Ink containment system and ink level sensing system for an inkjet cartridge An ink containment system for an inkjet cartridge, for storing ink for printing, comprises a housing having a plurality of walls. A rigid basin member and a rigid moveable plate are disposed within the housing. A flexible membrane is affixed to a surface of the basin member and to a surface of the plate forming an ink reservoir within the basin member, plate and flexible membrane. A spring-biased mechanism is disposed between the basin member and plate, for biasing the plate apart from the basin member, generating a negative pressure within the ink reservoir and the basin member remaining stationary relative to the movement of the plate.
US08091991B2	Continuous printhead gas flow duct including drain In an inkjet printhead using a gas flow, typically air, to deflect select drop into catch, gas flow (air) ducts are employed to direct the air across the drop trajectories. Improved air ducts include liquid flow channels in a wall of the air duct are provided to allow ink to be removed from the air duct without disrupting the air flow in the duct. A process for cleaning the air duct using the liquid flow channel is also provided.
US08091986B2	Nozzle arrangement including active and static ink ejecting members defining variable-volume chamber A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes an ink inlet; a static ink ejecting member bounding the ink inlet; an active ink ejecting member having a roof defining an ink ejection port and sidewalls depending from the roof towards the substrate, the active ink ejecting member and the static ink ejecting member together defining a nozzle chamber; and an actuator arrangement configured to reciprocate the active ink ejection member relative to the static ink ejecting member to eject ink in the nozzle chamber out through the ink ejection port. The static ink ejecting member is located within bounds delimited by the sidewalls of the active ink ejecting member, the static ink ejecting member includes a sealing structure defined along an edge of the static ink ejecting member and spaced from the sidewall, and the sealing structure is shaped to facilitate a surface tension of a fluid in the variable-volume nozzle chamber to form a fluidic seal between the active and static ink ejecting members.
US08091985B2	Printhead having ejection nozzles with displaceable fluid chambers A printhead is provided having a plurality of ejection nozzles defined in an array along a substrate. Each nozzle has a wall portion bounding a respective fluid inlet defined in the substrate, a crown portion defining an ejection port, a skirt portion depending from the crown portion to form part of a peripheral wall of the nozzle, and an actuator. The crown and skirt portions are displaceable with respect to the wall portion to alter a volume of a fluid chamber defined by the wall, crown and skirt portions such that when the volume is altered, fluid is ejected from the ejection port. The crown portion defines a rim surrounding the ejection port so as to facilitate formation of a meniscus of the fluid. The actuator causes the displacement of the crown and skirt portions.
US08091984B2	Inkjet printhead employing active and static ink ejection structures An inkjet printhead includes a wafer having a droplet ejection side and a liquid supply side opposite the droplet ejection side; a plurality of active ink ejection structures formed on the droplet ejection side of the wafer, each active ink ejection structure partially defining a nozzle chamber, and defining an ink ejection port; a plurality of individual fluid passages formed in the wafer, each fluid passage providing fluid to corresponding nozzle chambers; a plurality of static ink ejection structures formed on the droplet ejection side of the wafer and inside of corresponding active ink ejection structures, each static ink ejection structure defining a nozzle chamber with a corresponding active ink ejection structure; and droplet ejection actuators respectively corresponding to each active ink ejection structure. The droplet ejection actuators are formed on the droplet ejection side of the wafer and attached to respective active ink ejection structures. The droplet ejection actuators are operable to displace an active ink ejection structures towards a corresponding static ink ejection structure to effect ejection of fluid in the nozzle chamber through the ink ejection port.
US08091979B2	Apparatus for free-spraying an inkjet printhead An apparatus for free-spraying an inkjet printhead includes a feed table with a slot carrier which can be deflected counter to a spring force and has at least one free-spraying slot disposed opposite at least one inkjet printhead. The slot carrier is shaped in such a way that the at least one free-spraying slot is deflected out of a transport path corresponding to an entry of an item of mail being fed in.
US08091970B2	Metallic structure improvement for manufacturing electrical cabinets/panels IMPROVEMENT TO THE METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICAL PANELS/CABINETS, enclosing a structure of metallic cross sections (5), with the device for supporting the parts making up the external walls from folded sheets, as well as constituting the device for supporting and mounting the doors with its respective hinges and other accessories, such as: the upper (6) and lower enclosure with the base (7) and other components, being that, still, same structure, although, on the inside, also configures the necessary mounts for distributing and assembling the different electrical and electronic components and devices; in the first construction version, the said structure (5) presented semi-assembled, where four of its uprights or four of its cross sections (P1) are completely free while all the other cross sections are rigidly integrated into two equal rectangular frames (8) which form the two opposite sides of the said structure (5) and therefore at the corner point of the junction of each rectangular frame (8) there is a complementary device (9) cooperating for the interlinking at 90° between two adjacent cross sections (P2) and (P3) of each frame (8), as also this selfsame device presents the mechanism so that the extremities of the other cross sections (P1) may be coupled between the corners of the rectangular frames (8), thus forming the structure (5).
US08091969B2	Wall mount cabinet system A wall mount cabinet is disclosed. The wall mount cabinet includes a rear section having a first end and a second end, and a front section hingedly connected to the rear section at a pivot point. The rear section has a cutout area adjacent the first end, and the cutout area allows access for cables to enter the cabinet. The pivot point is adjacent the cutout area and the first end of the rear section. The cutout area allows cables to rotate about the pivot point when the cabinet is moved from a closed position to an open position.
US08091968B2	Solenoid valve controller A solenoid valve controller includes a control housing having a base provided with projections. Each of the projections has a recess provided therein. At least one elastomer element is arranged between at least two of the projections. A magnet coil yoke abuts the elastomer element and is fixed to at least one of the recesses. The elastomer element drives the magnet coil yoke away from the base and into engagement with an outer side of the hydraulic device when the magnet coil yoke is pressed toward the base by the outer side of the hydraulic device. The magnet coil yoke receives a solenoid valve unit of the hydraulic device therein.
US08091967B2	Spindle drive for a lumbar support in the backrest structure of a motor vehicle seat A spindle drive for a lumbar support in a backrest structure of a motor vehicle seat includes two gliders guided on a carrier of the lumbar support. Each glider is connected to a spindle nut which is engaged with an associated thread section of a spindle. The thread sections have threads of opposite thread pitch, so that the gliders are movable in opposite directions and pivot towards and away from the carrier supporting bails of a supporting device hinged to the carrier and being adjustable substantially perpendicular to the carrier. At least one of the spindle nuts partly encompasses the spindle and can be clipped onto its associated thread section of the spindle.
US08091963B2	Cushioning medallions, methods of making and methods of using The present disclosure relates to cushioning medallions, methods of making and methods of using, particularly cushioning medallions comprising a relatively low durometer viscoelastic polymer gel, for use on a bicycle seat.
US08091961B2	Transport seating Two rows of seats (11, 12, 13) and (21, 22, 23), each having a seat cushion (2), a backrest (3) and a head rest (4) with wings (5). The outer seats (11, 13; 21, 23) face in one direction whilst the middle seats (12; 22) face in the other direction. The result is that the passenger in the middle seat (22) can look directly along lines of sight S at the passengers in the outer seats (11, 13) of the next row and vice versa, which they would prefer not to be able to do. The lines of sight pass the wings (5) of the head rests in front of the passengers concerned. The wings (5) extend from the edges (6) of their head rests (4) and have (screens 101) pivoted to the outside of the wings at their proximal ends (7). The screens comprise an outer frame (102) and a fabric screen material (103) within the frame. It is this material that interrupts the lines of sight S.
US08091958B2	Chair A chair includes a seat body, a front leg, a rear leg, and a leg receiver. The seat body has a seating face for a person to sit on, and a backrest for a person to lean against. One end of the front leg is attached to an underside region which is underside of the seating face of the seat body, in such a manner that the one end of the front leg is capable of being rotated in relation to the seat body. One end of the rear leg is rotatably attached to the seat body at a position closer to a backrest side than a position at which the one end of the front leg is attached. The leg receiver is arranged on a floor surface. The respective other ends of the front leg and the rear leg are rotatably attached to the leg receiver.
US08091955B2	Sliding window for work vehicle cab A cab for a vehicle has an inset mesh screens along opposite side walls that define window openings through which an operator can view the surroundings, and the window opening is covered with a window assembly including a sliding window panel. The sliding window panel has a latch member that extends through a slot in the mesh screen, and a spring loaded knob that will seat in detents in the mesh screen at selected positions along the slot. The spring loaded knob is on the interior of the cab and is secured in place. The inset of the mesh screen forms a recessed receptacle for the window assembly so window panels of the window assembly do not project outwardly beyond the side surfaces of the cab.
US08091953B2	Vehicle ceiling structure In a vehicle ceiling structure, a long reinforcing rib is attached to a ceiling member of the vehicle, the rib being made of a resin having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from that of the ceiling member. The reinforcing rib comprises a plurality of segmented ribs that are divided by a gap in a longitudinal direction. One segmented rib of adjoining segmented ribs and is formed, in upper and lower parts of a front end portion thereof, with an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion protruding in the longitudinal direction. One segmented rib and the other segmented rib fit with each other such that a lower face of the upper protrusion and an upper face of the lower protrusion of the one segmented rib respectively face a rear end portion of the other segmented rib in an up and down direction.
US08091952B2	Hardwood truck flooring with wood preservatives A hardwood floor used for making trailers in the transportation industry is treated, at least for a portion thereof, with a water-based wood preservative. The preservative is preferably a borate-based preservative. When the floor is provided with a steel plate at a rear thereof, the wood preservative located in the vicinity of the steel plate prevents the formation of fungi and increases the useful life of the floor.
US08091951B1	Cargo vehicle with drag reduction A semi-trailer or other cargo vehicle enclosure includes a rearward end portion extending between opposite left and right sidewalls. The sidewalls include vertically extending rearward corner portions that define air passageways for directing rearwardly flowing air from alongside the sidewalls toward a region of low pressure behind the rearward end portion of the enclosure. Preferably, the rearward corner portions include vertically extending rearward corner posts and deflector components that are formed to cooperatively define circularly shaped passageways for gradual air-flow redirection, with the sidewall exterior surfaces and the deflector exterior surfaces being within prescribed maximum semi-trailer widths while the interior corner post spacing does not reduce the usual width of semi-trailer cargo space. Offset door hinges are included that enable rear doors to open fully to positions parallel to the exterior surfaces of the enclosure sidewalls despite the left and right air-deflecting structures that extend sideways beyond the left and right sidewalls.
US08091948B2	Flush-closing window for motor vehicles and method, guide track system and pin assembly therefor A multi-pane flush closing window assembly for a vehicle that has a body enclosing a passenger compartment is secured in an opening in the vehicle body by a clamp ring fastened to the interior wall of the vehicle body. The improved window assembly includes at least one fixed sub-assembly and at least one sliding sub-assembly supported by a frame. The fixed sub-assembly has a sash, and removable fasteners extend through the peripheral edge of the sash into the interior side of the frame so that the fixed sub-assembly can be independently disassembled from the interior of the vehicle without removing the frame or the clamp ring. The sliding sub-assembly is removably secured to the frame by an improved multi-piece guide track and slide pin assembly that allows removal of the sliding sub-assembly without removing the frame. The slide pins are removably secured to opposite sides of the sliding sub-assembly.
US08091943B1	Apparatus and method for accessing the bed of a pickup truck An apparatus for accessing the bed of a pickup truck having a frame, a rear bumper and a tailgate having a distal edge and being hingedly mounted to the frame includes a lower linkage assembly having proximal and distal ends and being pivotally mounted at its proximal end to the rear truck bumper at a first axis; an upper linkage assembly having proximal and distal ends and being pivotally mounted at its proximal end to and proximal the distal edge of the truck tailgate at a second axis, and being pivotally mounted at its distal end to the distal end of the lower linkage assembly at a third axis; a step connected to the lower linkage assembly; and, wherein the distance between the first and second axes is an effective length LB, the distance between the second and third axes is an effective length LT, and the distance between the first and third axes is an effective length LS, and wherein the ratio of LS to LT to LB to is approximately 2.9 to 1.8 to 4.5.
US08091939B2	Air bag compatible vehicle partition A security partition for use in a vehicle having side curtain air bags is shown. The partition includes a frame. The frame in combination with the vehicle defines a cavity. The side curtain air bags are configured to deploy and occupy the cavity. A side wing is configured to be fastened to the frame. The side wing includes a body, and an air bag director. The plane of the air bag director is angled relative to the plane of the body.
US08091938B2	Pneumatic linear gripper A pneumatic linear gripper, including a gripper body (11) with a chamber (15), a piston (12) moving alternately in the chamber (15) and a pair of jaws (13) sliding associated and movable in opposite directions with piston via a translation device (20). The gripper body (11) is formed of two elements (14), or semi-shells, joined face to face to define at the same time the chamber (15) for the piston (12) and the sliding guides (16) for the jaws (13). The piston (12) is composed of a first component (21), made of a plastic material, bearing seals and a second component (22), made of metal, associated with the first and united, in particular integral, with the translation device (20) of the jaws in opposite directions.
US08091935B2	Internal release connector and method A tubing connection release system. The system includes, a male connector having a profile at one end thereof and receptive to a tubular at the other end thereof, a female connector receptive to a tubular at one end thereof and receptive to the male connector at the other end thereof. The system further includes, a sleeve disposed radially inwardly of the female connector, and a collet having at least one deflectable collet finger disposed radially inwardly of the sleeve. The collet is biased to a position within the female connector whereat the at least one collet finger is supported against radially outward deflection. The collet is further movable by the push-in connector against the bias to a position where the at least one collet finger is radially outwardly unsupported such that the profiled end of the male connector is movable into engagement with the at least one collet finger.
US08091934B2	Swimming pool maintenance apparatus A swimming pool skimmer maintenance apparatus (10) includes an elongate tubular handle (12) having a hook end (14) and an opposed sealing end (16). The sealing end includes a sealing structure such as a spherical ball (116) defining a sealing surface effective to seal a skimmer suction port to prevent a flow of water through the skimmer suction port. The hook end supports a metal wire hook (32) which extends from the handle and which is adapted to lift a debris collection basket, a skimmer diverter or a skimmer lid present at the skimmer. The apparatus is also useful for safely probing the skimmer for animals or insects.
US08091928B2	Coupling assembly for connection to a hose A coupling assembly includes a fitting having a wall presenting an inner surface, surrounding a lumen, and an outer surface, opposing the inner surface. A barb extends radially away from the outer surface of the wall to a peak. A seal circumferentially surrounds the outer surface of the wall and is spaced from the peak of the barb. A hose presents an initial outer diameter. The hose extends over each of the seal and the barb such that the hose is deformed at the barb to present a displaced outer diameter that is greater than the initial outer diameter of the hose. A cage is spaced at least a distance from the peak of the barb and radially compresses the exterior surface of the hose and the seal to form an interference fit between each of the hose, the barb, and the cage.
US08091927B2	Gas supply coupling for a water heater A gas supply coupling is disposed within and extends through an opening of a combustion chamber for a water heater. The coupling includes a fitting which is a relatively inexpensive stamped component. A stepped tubular connection extends from a plate and includes a first portion having a first diameter which necks down to a second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter. The stepped tubular connection receives a gas supply tube into the first portion and a gas supply line over the second portion. The tubes are braised to the stepped connection. Other gas supply couplings include a machined fitting and a direct connection between a gas supply tube and a gas supply line in which the gas supply tube itself provides for both the seal to the shield and the connection to the gas supply line.
US08091926B2	Device for connecting two duct elements and a baffle in an aircraft air conditioning system A device (10) for connecting two duct elements (12, 14) and a baffle (34) in an aircraft air conditioning system may include first (30) and second (32) connecting flanges each connected to one of the two duct elements (12, 14), and at least one connecting element (38) formed on the first connecting flange (30) which interacts with at least one corresponding connecting element (40) formed on the second connecting flange (32) to establish the connection of the two duct elements (12, 14) and the baffle (34). The first (30) and/or second connecting flange (32) has/have an opening (44) for receiving the baffle (34), which is substantially disc-shaped and formed with at least one air passage (46, 48). The baffle (34) serves to control the flow of at least one air stream flowing through the connected duct elements (12, 14).
US08091923B2	Adaptive seat belt load limiter and method Method and apparatus for limiting the load on a seat belt buckle, includes providing an adjustable energy absorbing device mounting the seat belt buckle on the vehicle, sensing vehicle and occupant conditions to determine the optimal adjustment of the adjustable energy absorbing device for restraint of the occupant under the sensed conditions, and adjusting the adjustable energy absorbing device in response to the sensed conditions to thereby adapt the restraint of the occupant to the sensed conditions. The adjustable energy absorbing device is an extendable strut having an end connected to the buckle and an end connected to the vehicle, said strut having metal deforming elements therein being deformed upon the load reaching a certain magnitude, and said strut having an adjusting mechanism adjusting the metal deforming elements to adjust the degree of metal deformation and thereby adjust the energy absorbing capacity of the strut.
US08091922B2	Trailer jack capable of rapid gross and incremental adjustments in the height of a trailer A trailer jack capable of rapid gross and incremental adjustments in height adapted for attachment to a trailer. The jack is comprised of an inner member nested within an outer member, a collar, a housing and a pin. The inner member is threadably connected to the outer member with a bolt having a crank attached at one end. The bolt enables incremental adjustments in the trailer height by extension and retraction of the inner member with respect to the outer member. The connected outer and inner members are secured to the trailer with a pin inserted through the housing, a hole in the collar and one of a plurality of longitudinal holes in the outer member. To create rapid gross adjustments in the trailer height, the pin is retracted, a different hole in the outer member is registered with the hole in the collar and the pin re-inserted.
US08091919B2	Airbag module cover A cover for an airbag module includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer includes a predefined tear line and the third layer is configured to face into a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
US08091918B2	Double-sewn airbag mounting assemblies Mounting assemblies can be used to attach an inflatable curtain airbag to a vehicle structure. Mounting assemblies can include a mounting member, a connecting member, and an optional wrapper. The connecting member is attached to the mounting member and the airbag via stitching, which can be categorized according to the primary direction of stress that may be placed on the stitching during airbag deployment. Stitching in shear is stronger than otherwise identical stitching in peel; however, a preferred method of packaging a curtain airbag results in a b-rolled airbag that can not be attached to the connecting member with shear stitching alone. Peel stitching alone may not be strong enough to retain an occupant within the vehicle during a rollover event. As such, a combination of a folded connecting member, shear stitching, and peel stitching allows a b-roll airbag to meet occupant ejection mitigation requirements.
US08091915B2	Animated novelty device An animated novelty device for mounting on a ball of a trailer hitch on a vehicle, the device including an electric motor for imparting motion to selected elements of the device. The motor is electrically connected to the vehicle braking system whereby the device is set in motion by energizing the vehicle brakes.
US08091912B2	Floating boat trailer A boat towing system for towing a boat behind a vehicle comprising a boat trailer having a frame constructed and arranged with a first portion and a second portion that are pinned together to permit one section to move relative to the other section. The second portion is constructed and arranged to accommodate floatation panels. A spring biased buckle is mounted on the second portion and has a strap which has a hooked portion on its distal end. The boat towing system further comprises an attachment mount connected to the vehicle.
US08091911B2	Double wing bicycle fender A double wing bicycle fender is mounted on a frame pipe of a bicycle. When in use, a fender main body of the roll-up bicycle fender can be pulled out into an operative position at both sides of the shaft to increase the effective width of the fender for blocking the splashing of mud, water and road debris, and can also be rolled up on the shaft and collected in a holding body, thus it not only saves space but is aesthetically pleasing.
US08091908B2	Bicycle trailer hitch A trailer for towing by a bicycle is disclosed comprising a tow arm adapted for coupling by a hitch to the bicycle. The tow arm is pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the trailer frame and can be collapsed against the frame. The frame can comprise plural frame sections that can also pivot to a collapsed position and a lower shelf foldable to a collapsed position as well. Locking elements can be provided for selectively locking the trailer components against relative pivoting motion. One or more actuators for selectively locking and unlocking the frame components can be provided. One such actuator can simultaneously unlock first and second transversely spaced apart hinge elements. The hitch can comprise a flexible coupling that provides torsional resistance against rolling motion of the trailer, particularly when the trailer is mounted to a seat post or other location above the rear wheel of the bicycle. The flexible hitch coupling can provide a progressively increasing torsional resistance to such rolling while allowing pivoting of the trailer relative to the bicycle as the bicycle is steered and flexing to accommodate variations in pitch between the bicycle and trailer.
US08091905B2	Motorcycle low-profile positioning creeper A motorcycle low-profile positioning creeper allows a medium to large motorcycle to be easily mounted on the positioning creeper and easily moved to any desired position on a horizontal surface such as a showroom floor or storage area. The positioning creeper comprises a low slung H-frame body and four rotatable wheels. The low slung H-frame body is a plate and comprises four corners and four protrusions. The four protrusions protrude upward and outward respectively from the corners and are separated from adjacent longitudinal protrusions a distance greater than a motorcycle tire width. The four rotatable wheels are mounted respectively under the four protrusions.
US08091902B2	Ice skateboard An ice skateboard comprising a skateboard having a top surface, a bottom surface, side edges, and a front and back section, said ice skateboard having an ice blade assembly attached to the bottom surface, said ice blade assembly comprising a mounting plate having at least one integral ice blade that extends outwardly at substantially right angles from said mounting plate.
US08091899B2	Carriage and incorporated harness with damping mechanisms for improved towing and stability of the carriage A carriage and incorporated harness and towing assembly which allows for significant freedom of movement for a user and a safe and comfortable ride for a passenger is disclosed. The towing assembly comprises a flexible, semi-resilient member surrounded by a plurality of rigid linkages, a fixed towing member and a harness coupling member. The carriage is comprised of at least a single, two-wheel axis and at least one motion damping device. One object of the disclosure is to provide an apparatus that allows a user to comfortably tow a child, toddler or infant while participating in a variety of exercise or general travel-related activities.
US08091897B2	Mechanical seal assembly A split mechanical composite seal assembly for providing a seal between a rotating shaft and a static surface. The split mechanical composite seal assembly includes first and second axially adjacent annular seal elements. The first and second seal elements each include a sealing edge contacting the shaft to provide a respective seal between the first and second seal element and the shaft. A static housing receives the first and second seal elements and engages the static surface to provide a static stationary seal, while concomitantly providing a flex region that engages the seal elements to form a dynamic seal therewith. A holder assembly receives one seal element and may include a double-angled lead-in to facilitate installation of the seal element. The holder assembly may include a detent groove for receiving and retaining an O-ring disposed about the seal element. The static housing may comprise two mating segments having overlapping surfaces.
US08091891B2	Device for treating sheet-like substrates with light A device for treating sheet-like substrates with light is made for a suction table, which includes a circulating suction strip for transporting the sheet-like substrates, which suction strip forms a descending loop relative to its table-parallel transport level. The loop has a descending branch and, adjacent to the latter, an ascending branch. There is a gap for the passage of light between the descending branch and the ascending branch of the suction strip, which is bridged by a stationary bridging member which at least partially allows light to pass through it and whose surface is disposed at a level slightly recessed relative to the parallel transport level, so that a high degree of accuracy and trouble-free operation are ensured even at high transport speeds.
US08091888B2	Sheet handling apparatus In an apparatus for handling sheets, first and second sheet transfer members are movable to transfer one of the sheets between the first and second sheet transfer members, the first and second sheet transfer members have respective transfer surfaces contactable with the one of the sheets so that the one of the sheets is driven to be transferred by at least one of the first and second sheet transfer members, and an information reader is arranged between the first and second sheet transfer members in such a manner that an information is readable from the one of the sheets even when the one of the sheets is transferred by one of the first and second sheet transfer members and is prevented from being transferred by both of the first and second sheet transfer members.
US08091884B2	Transport device, overlap feed sign detection device, and computer readable medium A transport device includes a feed unit that feeds transport subjects being loaded in a loading portion one by one in a transport direction, a protrusion amount detection unit that detects a protrusion amount of the transport subjects from the loading portion in the transport direction and an overlap feed sign detection unit that detects a sign of occurrence of overlap feed of the transport subjects based on a detection result of the protrusion amount.
US08091883B2	Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus The sheet feeding device includes a straight sheet feeding passage, and plural sheet feeding sections. Each sheet feeding section includes a container containing a stack of sheets; a driving rotor; a first driven rotor contacting the driving rotor to form a first nip; a feeding member feeding the sheet from the container toward the first nip; and a second driven rotor contacting the driving rotor or the first driven rotor to form a second nip at the junction of the sheet feeding section and the sheet feeding passage. Only the sheet feeding section on the extreme upstream side has a curved guide instead of the second driven rotor to directly feed the sheet to the second nip of the adjacent sheet feeding section so that the sheet at the curved guide has greater curvature radius than the sheet fed from the other sheet feeding sections toward the second nip thereof.
US08091879B2	Device for trimming the top edge, bottom edge and opening edge of a printed product In a device for trimming the top edge, bottom edge and opening edge of a printed product, for example a newspaper, the printed product is transported through A cutting region of a connected cutting unit in a closed clamp of a synchronously driven conveying apparatus. The conveying apparatus is configured as a conveying rotor and the clamps are guided past a transfer station for loading on a circulating path and past a delivery station for delivering a printed product in an open position. The printed product is trimmed in the cutting region of the cutting unit which is arranged between the transfer station and the delivery station and in which the printed product is clamped in the closed clamp.
US08091878B2	Conveying apparatus A conveying apparatus with conveying compartments (2) which can be displaced one behind the other along a conveying path has supporting surfaces (S) which are arranged in the conveying compartments and on which flat articles (G), in particular printed products, can be conveyed in a state in which they rest thereon. The supporting surfaces (S) are each formed by a flexible supporting belt (5). In order to set different angles between the supporting surface (S) and the conveying path (1), each conveying compartment (2) has a setting element (3), which acts on the supporting belt (5) in a region between two belt ends which are fastened at two fastening locations (10, 11) which are spaced apart from one another parallel to the conveying path (1). The setting element (3) is further equipped in order to press articles (G) against the supporting surface (S) in an adjacent conveying compartment (2′).
US08091876B2	Fixture for securing optoelectronic packages for wire and/or component bonding Generally, a fixture for securing optoelectronic packages may be used to secure one or more optoelectronic packages for mounting one or more components and/or one or more wires to at least first and second mounting surfaces at different relative angles. The fixture is rotatable between at least first and second mounting positions with a top surface of the fixture being at respective first and second mounting angles relative to a horizontal plane. The fixture may be configured to secure the optoelectronic package(s) for positioning at different mounting angles to facilitate mounting the components and/or wires to the mounting surfaces at the different angles. The fixture may also be configured to be continuously adjustable over a range of angles between the first and second mounting angles.
US08091863B2	Gate valve and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus A gate valve of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, which is formed between a processing chamber in which processing is performed and a transfer chamber which carries a substrate on which the processing is performed, includes a gate valve at a side of the processing chamber; a sealing member which is formed in the gate valve at the side of the processing chamber; a gate valve at the side of the transfer chamber; a sealing member which is formed in the gate valve at the side of the transfer chamber; and a thermal insulator which is formed between the gate valve at the side of the processing chamber and the gate valve at the side of the transfer chamber.
US08091862B2	Butterfly valves having sleeve inserts A butterfly valve having a valve body, a butterfly shaft, a butterfly plate, and a sleeve insert is provided. The valve body is made of a first material and the sleeve insert is made of a second material. The butterfly shaft is in the valve body for rotation about a first axis. The butterfly plate is in the valve body and secured to the butterfly shaft so that rotation of the butterfly shaft causes the butterfly plate to rotate about a second axis through a travel path between a closed position and an open position. The sleeve insert is in the valve body at least in a region of the travel path between the valve body and the butterfly plate.
US08091856B2	Automate fluid flow control system An automate fluid flow control system includes a valve member for being sealedly disposed within a fluid chamber to seal a flow of fluid flowing from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, a relief valve having a fluid passage extended along the valve member for communicating the fluid chamber with the fluid outlet and including a valve stopper sitting on a top opening of the fluid passage to sealedly close the fluid passage, and a powering assembly including an actuator to move the relief valve between a closed position that the valve stopper is sealedly retained to close the fluid passage and an opened position that the actuator drives the valve stopper to unseal the fluid passage for releasing a pressure within the water chamber to allow the fluid passing to the fluid outlet.
US08091850B2	Quick release electronics platform A device mounting platform apparatus having a reconfigurable biasing mechanism. The device mounting platform apparatus includes a frame member capable of being mounted in a vehicle and having a device mounting surface facing generally upward. A clamp member is slidably interconnected to the frame member along a first direction. A biasing mechanism is coupled between the frame and clamp members. The biasing mechanism is reconfigurable for urging a jaw portion of the clamp member along the first direction heading either toward or away from the frame member. The biasing mechanism is thus reconfigurable for either urging the clamp member open or urging it closed.
US08091849B2	Suspension device for a hardware element A suspension device for a hardware element, which includes a mobile carriage, an arm designed to support the equipment to be suspended, and means for connecting between the arm and the carriage, in which the connection means include damping means in order to damp movement of the arm in relation to the mobile carriage.
US08091845B2	Holder for receiving a lid or a cover A holder comprising a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a base, a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls extend upwardly from the base to define a space for receiving at least partially a lid or a cover. The second portion has a first member extending downwardly from the second wall and a second member with a bridge extending between the first and second members. The second member has a lever portion and a grasping portion. In use, the grasping portion is movable between a first position, where a gap is formed between the grasping portion and the first member, and a second position, where the grasping portion is biased towards the first member.
US08091843B2	Vacuum mount type support device A vacuum mount type support device includes a vacuum mount base member having a multilateral upright shaft, a hard vacuum mount cap member having a cup-like body capped on the top side of the rubber disk of the vacuum mount base member and a through hole for the passing of the multilateral upright shaft, a control device threaded onto the multilateral upright shaft and rotatably to impart a pressure to the vacuum mount cap member against the vacuum mount base member for causing formation of a vacuum suction force, and a device holder fastened to the connector of the vacuum mount base member above the control device for holding an external device.
US08091840B1	Holder for flexible wall containers A holder for flexible wall containers or bags for holding collapsible wall container or bag open and thus facilitates the filling of the containers or bags. The holder is formed of easy dissembled parts that may be compacted, thus facilitating its storing or transportation. It is highly versatile since its internal cavity that accommodates the flexible wall container may be assembled in different sizes, allowing the convenience of using it with container or bags of different sizes. The holder is assembled by inserting two arms of a supporting unit into two rotating units of a second supporting unit. The length of the arms inserted in the rotating unit dictates the predetermined housing size of the holder.
US08091838B2	Mounting mechanism for storage device A mounting mechanism for assembling a storage device includes a fixing member, a rotary member rotatably connected to the fixing member, and a pair of brackets extending from the fixing member. A resisting face is formed at a lateral side of the rotary member for engaging with the storage device. The pair of brackets are parallel to each other. A space is defined between the brackets for accommodating the storage device. A sliding groove is defined in each of the brackets. The sliding groove includes a split and an opening intercommunicating the split and on a side. The opening is closer to the fixing member relative to the split.
US08091833B2	Vibration isolation devices and associated systems and methods Vibration isolation devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, an unmanned aircraft can include a fuselage having a first fuselage section and a second fuselage section adjacent to and at least approximately longitudinally aligned with the first fuselage section. The aircraft can also include at least one vibration isolation device coupling the first fuselage section to the second fuselage section. The vibration isolation device is translationally stiffer along a longitudinal axis than it is along a lateral and a vertical axis, and rotationally stiffer about a pitch and a yaw axis than it is about a roll axis.
US08091832B2	Nacelle cowling for turbojet and nacelle comprising at least one such cowling A nacelle cowling for a turbojet, characterized in that it is provided with a fixed part and a mobile part, the mobile part being adapted to slide along the fixed part, from a closed position wherein the mobile part extends in the extension of the fixed part, up to an open position wherein the mobile part is at least partly superimposed to the fixed part. For example, the fixed part is located in the upper part of the cowling, the mobile part being located in the lower part of the cowling.
US08091823B2	Flapping apparatus with large flapping angles The present invention provides a flapping apparatus with a large flapping angle. The flapping apparatus includes a frame, a drive motor, a slider, connection links, actuating links and wings. The frame includes I-shaped plates which face each other in parallel, and coupling rods which couple the opposite corners of the upper ends of the I-shaped plates to each other. The drive motor is fastened to the frame such that a rotating shaft thereof is disposed inside the frame. The slider includes lateral bars which are reciprocated upwards and downwards. The connection links are rotatably coupled at first ends thereof to both ends of the lateral bar. The actuating links are rotatably coupled at first ends thereof to second ends of the connection links. The actuating links are rotatably coupled at second ends thereof to the coupling rods. The wings are respectively attached to the upper surfaces of the actuating links.
US08091819B2	New-type thin shredder blade having blade points without steps, blade sets and manufacturing method thereof Thin shredder blade having blade points without steps, including blade body and cutting part located on periphery of blade body and includes a blade point. The cutting part includes a primary protrusion protruding from the cutting part. The primary protrusion includes a top, an inclined plane extending between the top and blade point, and an acute angle formed by inclined plane and blade body. The plane is an inverted triangle. The cutting part further includes first and second hemlines extending from the blade body and intersecting to the blade point. A first plane extends between the top and first hemline and intersects with the inclined plane. The blade body includes a large protrusion which protrudes in the same direction as the primary protrusion. The blade sets formed by the thin blades and the manufacturing method of the thin blades are provided.
US08091814B2	Single-motor shredder A single-motor shredder has a housing, and multiple cutting rollers, a paper feeding mechanism and a motor mounted in the housing. A first gear set connects the cutting rollers with the motor and a second gear set connects the cutting rollers with the paper feeding mechanism. Only one motor is needed to drive the cutting rollers and the paper feeding mechanism. Therefore, the shredder is light and a manufacturing costs of the shredder are lowered. Moreover, the paper feeding mechanism separates a stack of paper into small piles to sequentially feed the stack of paper in small piles. Thus, the stack of paper does not jam the cutting rollersso improving lifetime of the shredder.
US08091810B2	Cheese crumbling device An apparatus and method for crumbling a food product such as a block of cheese into irregularly shaped food particles. One embodiment of the apparatus consists of a chute-shaped housing that contains two opposing plates with a plurality of smooth, rounded, finger-like protrusions on their faces, where the plates are closer together towards the bottom of the chute. When food is inserted into the top of the chute and one of the plates is moved in an up-and-down motion, the protrusions on the opposing plates crumble the food into progressively smaller food particles until the crumbled particles drop through the gap between the bottoms of the plates and out the bottom of the chute. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US08091806B2	Removable spread head A movable spread head comprises a tubular member, a watering member, a valve core, a housing, a front cover, a control member, and a first and a second watering elements. The valve core is axially installed on a front end of the tubular member, the control member is located on a top end of the housing and includes a first and a second press portions to be selectively pressed to generate a levering action, such that the valve core is actuated to move axially to engage with the tubular member or the watering member tightly, so that water flow from an outlet of the tubular member is guided to one of first and second water orifices to flow outward from one of the first and the second watering elements, thereby decreasing related components and size, simplifying structure, and operating the movable spread head easily.
US08091805B2	Split-flow pre-filming fuel nozzle Presented is a pre-filming fuel nozzle that is readily manufacturable and consists of a fuel injector, a nozzle insert that fits over the fuel injector outlet, and a housing that generally encloses the fuel injector and nozzle insert. The housing has an atomizing lip, a fuel inlet passage, and an air passage. The nozzle insert has openings near the fuel injector that allows air to flow into the insert. During operation, the fuel injector impinges fuel on an inner surface of the insert and is pulled towards the atomizing lip from air flow through the insert. The air flow through the insert and air flow through the housing join at the atomizing lip, resulting in air flows shearing fuel droplets off of the atomizing lip. The nozzle may have swirler means such as a swirler fin and/or swirler passages on the insert to aid in swirling the air flow.
US08091801B2	Generation of therapeutic microfoam Improved therapeutic sclerosing microfoams and methods and devices for making them are provided that have advantage in producing a consistent profile injectable foam with minimal input by the physician yet using high volume percentages of blood dispersible gases, thus avoiding use of potentially hazardous amounts of nitrogen.
US08091800B2	Drippers and pipe couplers A drip irrigation device for distributing a portion of the water flowing in an irrigation pipe to a plant, the device comprising: a housing formed from a relatively soft plastic; and a connector for coupling the housing to the irrigation pipe comprising a bayonet for puncturing the irrigation pipe formed from a relatively hard material over-molded onto a feature of the housing made from the soft plastic.
US08091799B2	Boom cradle slide system A boom cradle slide system for use with an agricultural sprayer vehicle is provided. The boom cradle slide system includes a boom cradle that holds a sprayer boom in a stowed position. A slide assembly connects the boom cradle to the sprayer vehicle and allows the boom cradle to move transversely or laterally nearer to or further from the sprayer vehicle. An actuator provides the mechanism for driving the slide assembly and correspondingly moving the boom cradle and sprayer boom. The actuator is operated from outside a cab of the sprayer vehicle.
US08091796B2	HVAC controller that selectively replaces operating information on a display with system status information An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.
US08091790B2	Security for blister packs Various RFID based blister pack embodiments are provided for improving the ability to detect and prevent tampering and counterfeiting of blister packs and/or facilitating the chain of custody tracking of blister packs during manufacture. Some embodiments employ an RFID chip network on the blister pack and some embodiments employ an RFID strap network on the blister pack, wherein the integrity of the network (or lack thereof) is used to indicate the possibility of tampering. Other embodiments determine the possibility of tampering based on the frequency of an RF signal that is received from a chip provided on the blister pack, which will vary depending on whether the associated antenna has been detuned as a result of some type of tampering.
US08091789B2	Barcode imaging system and source of electromagnetic radiation therefor A barcode imaging apparatus includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and an image acquisition device. The acquisition device is configured to be sensitive to a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source of electromagnetic radiation. In use, a bar code to be read is illuminated by the source of electromagnetic radiation and an image of the barcode is captured by the image acquisition device at the wavelength of that radiation. The source of electromagnetic radiation includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a Current Source, a Driver for the current source, a Clock Pulse Generator, and a Monostable. The LED is powered by the Current source which is in turn driven by the Driver which is controlled by the Clock Pulse Generator through the Monostable.
US08091786B2	Add-on card with smartcard circuitry powered by a mobile device An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
US08091783B2	Cartridge reader with bar code unit and RFID unit A cartridge reader device includes an RFID unit that reads cartridge memory (CM) data from an RFID tag of a data cartridge, a bar code unit that reads a bar code of the data cartridge, and a housing that encloses the RFID unit and the bar code unit. The housing encloses the RFID unit and the bar code unit and defines at least one receiving area configured to accept the data cartridge and enables the bar code unit to read the bar code data from the bar code of the data cartridge. The reader device further includes a pair of mirrors positioned within the housing that direct light emitted by the bar code reader to the bar code of the data cartridge along a u-shaped path.
US08091778B1	Banking system computer determines nearest bank able to process a customer's transaction request, provides directions to the bank, and sends transaction request information and customer's image to the bank before the customer arrives at the bank A banking system computer can receive a transaction request from a remotely located customer, and then determine the nearest bank in the banking system that is able to process the transaction request. The computer then provides the customer with directions to the bank. Before arrival of the customer at the bank, the computer provides the bank with each of notification of the impending arrival of the customer, transaction information usable by the bank to process the transaction request, and an image of the customer. Personnel at the bank can then recognize and greet the arriving customer.
US08091774B2	Printing system using a cellular telephone A printing system is provided having a cellular telephone which has an input at which a print medium is loaded into the telephone, a printer, and a sensor for sensing an identifier of the loaded print medium. The cellular telephone uses the sensed identifier to determine whether or not the loaded print medium is a valid print medium on which printing can be performed by the printer. If the loaded print medium is determined to be valid, the cellular telephone controls the printer to print on the loaded print medium. If the loaded print medium is determined to not be valid, the cellular telephone ejects the loaded print medium at the input.
US08091773B2	Systems and methods for automatic printer configuration Apparatus, systems, and methods consistent with disclosed embodiments permit the automatic configuration of printers based on the generic physical characteristics of print media by using a product code associated with the print media. Printer configuration settings associated with the product code are retrieved and used to automatically configure an input tray by detecting status information pertaining to input trays during a specified time interval around the time the product code was received.
US08091772B2	Automated appliance registration A system for automatically registering an appliance, including a storage housed within an electrical appliance for storing identifying information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, and a communication card including a controller, an interface connector for connecting the communication card to the electrical appliance, a wireless cellular modem for transmitting data, and a card memory for storing program code, wherein when the communication card is connected to the electrical appliance via the interface connector, the program code automatically instructs the controller to collect the identifying information about the electrical appliance and its purchase, to collect owner information and to transmit at least a portion of the collected information to at least one remote recipient using the cellular modem. A method is also described and claimed.
US08091766B2	Method and apparatus for loading solder balls A solder ball loading apparatus for loading solder balls onto pads of a printed wiring board includes a holding device for holding a printed wiring board having pads and holding a ball array mask having of openings that correspond to pads of the printed wiring board, one or more cylinder members positioned over the holding device such that an opening portion of the cylinder member faces the holding device, the cylinder member gathering solder balls on the surface of the ball array mask under the cylinder member by suctioning air through the opening portion of the cylinder member, and a conveyor mechanism for moving the ball array mask and the printed wiring board relative to the cylinder member such that solder balls gathered under the opening portion of the cylinder member can be loaded onto the pads of the printed wiring board through the openings of the ball array mask held by the holding device.
US08091759B2	Soldering machine comprising a soldering module and at least one soldering station that is mobile and exchangeable insertable into the soldering module A soldering machine for soldering components which are mounted on a circuit board contains a soldering module and comprises at least one soldering station which is mobile and exchangeably insertable in the soldering module. The soldering station and the soldering module are equipped with means for mutual alignment and with female or male plugs, which fit with one another and which terminate supply lines for goods. When inserting the soldering station in the soldering module said means align the soldering station in relation to the soldering module. Preferably, the soldering machine is composed of modules which are situated one behind another in the transport direction and are removably connected to one another. Each module comprises an own transport system.
US08091757B1	Wire alignment tool for use during soldering A wire alignment tool for use during soldering is disclosed. The tool includes a handle configured to contain a supply of solder, a solder advancement mechanism constructed and arranged to move the supply of solder from the handle to a soldering locus, and a clamping mechanism constructed and arranged to maintain two or more wires to be soldered at the soldering locus.
US08091756B2	Varying tissue compression using take-up component The present disclosure relates to surgical fastener applying apparatus, and the application of variable compression to tissue. More specifically, the presently disclosed surgical fastener applying apparatus act to limit the flow of blood through tissue immediately adjacent a cut-line formed therein to effectuate hemostasis, while maximizing the flow of blood through tissue more removed from the cut-line to limit unnecessary necrosis. In one embodiment, a surgical fastener applying apparatus is disclosed having a tool assembly coupled to a distal end thereof with first and second jaws respectively including an anvil and a surgical fastener cartridge. The surgical fastener cartridge includes, among other things, a hemostasis member that is configured to apply at least two different compressive forces to tissue clamped between the first and second jaws of the tool assembly.
US08091755B2	Apparatus and method for surgical fastening A fastening apparatus for use in endoscopic surgery is provided and includes a fastener applicator having a first half-section and a second half-section. The first half-section includes a flat side having a first recessed region formed therein, the recessed region being configured and dimensioned to retain the plurality of vertically stacked fasteners therein. The second half-section includes a flat side having a second recessed region formed therein. The fastener applicator includes a fastener positioning spring attached to and flush with the first recessed region, wherein the fastener positioning spring is biased to extend beyond the first recessed region and the flat side of the first half-section; and a stop spring housed within the second recessed region, wherein the stop spring is biased such that when unrestrained the stop spring extends beyond the second recessed region and into the first recessed region.
US08091752B2	Nail gun with a nail guiding unit A nail gun includes a body, a handle connected fixedly to and extending laterally from the body, a nail ejecting member disposed on the body and formed with a nail discharging passage having opposite inlet and outlet ends, a magazine member connected to the nail ejection member, and an elongated nail guiding plate disposed within the nail discharging passage, and a driving member. The nail guiding plate has a pivot end disposed pivotally within the inlet end of the nail discharging passage, a free end disposed within the outlet end of the nail discharging passage, and a driven portion disposed between the pivot end and the free end. The driving member is connected to the driven portion of the nail guiding plate for driving the free end of the nail guiding plate to pivot between first and second positions.
US08091751B2	Gas internal combustion type nailing machine A gas internal combustion type nailing machine including a striking cylinder for slidably accommodating a striking piston therein, a combustion chamber formed in an upper side and capable of being opened and closed, a compressor for supercharging compressed air into the combustion chamber, a fuel supply device for supplying a fuel gas into the combustion chamber, and a safety device for preventing the nailing machine from being driven for ignition when the supercharge pressure of the compressed air exceeds a set pressure value.
US08091748B2	Dressing aid A device to assist physically challenged individuals to don outer, lower-body clothing or simultaneously don undergarments and pants or a skirt. The device comprises a cord to which at least one pair of grips is attached at either end. The grips are attached to a garment and the cord pulled to move the garments over the legs, hips, and ultimately to the waist. In one configuration, the cord is passed through a hand piece which allows locking the cord, freeing free one or both hands to fasten buttons of zippers.
US08091746B2	Tamper-evident container with pour-out container fitment A tamper-evident container with pour-out container fitment for frictional engagement within the cylindrical neck of a container to control and meter the flow of liquids out of the container. The fitment includes a top flange sufficient to cover the mouth of the container and a coaxial cylindrical insert extending from the top flange into the neck. The fitment is held into the neck by friction and a ring extends from the insert for enhanced frictional engagement. Apertures are provided in the insert to allow fluid to pass into the interior of the insert, and channels are provided along the walls of the interior from the apertures to the top flange to guide the liquid from the apertures to the flange.
US08091745B2	Disposable tap for a pressurized liquid container The invention relates to a disposable tap (1) for tapping liquid from a pressurized liquid container. Compared to prior art taps, the inventive disposable tap is modified so that it can be preferably placed in the upper area of the lateral wall of the liquid container. To this end, the tap comprises a lateral inlet opening (21) which is oriented downward when the tap is mounted and which is provided for coupling, in a sealing manner, to an ascending tube (34), and comprises elements (6, 7, 8), which control the entrance of liquid into the tap and to the outlet (of the tap hole) in an appropriate manner. The invention also relates to a liquid container with a corresponding opening (36) for and with this tap.
US08091743B2	Discharge device A discharge device having a liquid outlet with a hollow interior. The valve system is located inside the hollow interior of the liquid inlet. The valve guide system has a valve guide and a first rib. The valve guide system has a valve guide having a valve guide width. The valve guide width is at less than about 1.15 mm. The first rib has a first rib width having a first rib width. The width of the first rib is less than about 2.5 mm wide.
US08091741B2	Fluid dispenser In the present invention we replace a standard dip tube in a fluid dispenser with a hollow fiber membrane that passes liquid in preference to gas. Under the influence of a pressure differential, any liquid in contact with any portion of the hollow fiber membrane passes through the wall of the membrane and travels internally along the length of the membrane to a dispenser head. The fluid dispenser is thereby capable of operating in substantially any orientation and is effective to dispense substantially its entire contents.
US08091739B2	Engagement flange for fluid dispenser pump piston An improved arrangement for removably coupling a movable element of a piston pump to an actuator mechanism with the movable element including a resilient member which prevents radial movement of the movable element relative a catch member of the actuator mechanism from a coupled orientation unless the resilient member is deflected from an unbiased inherent configuration.
US08091737B2	Method and apparatus for a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle A multiple flavor beverage dispensing nozzle includes at least one disposable beverage flavor syrup injector for injecting flavor syrup into a mixing fluid. The flavor syrup injector injects flavor syrup at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the nozzle exit orifice such that the nozzle exit orifice does not come in contact with the syrup, avoiding color and flavor contamination of other dispensed beverages. Also, by injecting the syrup at an angle, the mixing fluid intersects with the syrup in midair below the surface of the nozzle, resulting in a complete and gentle mixing of syrup and mixing fluid, without syrup residue accumulating on any surface in contact with any other flavor. By directing the mixing fluid through and around the housing containing the flavor syrup injectors, a uniform even circular flow of mixing fluid is dispensed from the exit orifice of the nozzle. By using multiple flavor syrup injectors, a nozzle may contain several different flavors in a smaller space than a single flavor nozzle.
US08091736B2	System and method for generating a drive signal A method and computer program product for defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential. The PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly. At least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal are pulse width modulated to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal. The second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly.
US08091735B2	Liquid dispensing system An improved concentrated/extract cartridge is provided for dispensing a liquid in an accurate and repeatable manner. The cartridge includes an electromagnetically actuated piston connected to a value. The piston includes an exterior ring supported by a hollow interior web that is configured to permit a flow of fluid into the dispensing tube when the value body is in contact with the value seat. A membrane is located below the web and is in sealing contact with the internal ring when the piston is activated. This allows a precise and repeatable amount of the liquid to be dispensed with each stroke. Dispensers for dispensing the liquid from the cartridge for a number of applications are also provided. The dispensers each include an actuating coil into which the dispensing tube is inserted. A controller is connected to the coil for controlling the actuation of the piston/value assembly for dispensing the fluid in the cartridge as required for the particular application.
US08091733B2	Automated article dispensation mechanism Disclosed is a system for collecting, sorting, counting and consolidating an unorganized pool of solid or semi-solid articles such as pills for dispensation. Specifically, the articles are extracted from inside a bin using attraction points on a transport substrate and sorted into containers in finite quantities. The system consists of several components, preferably including a torque source, a counter and a vacuum source, which are uniquely integrated onto a single end-effector to reduce cost and redundancy by servicing several bins. Further, the system presents a method of attracting and carrying pills using negative vacuum pressure, gravity and centrifugal force. This centrifugal force holds articles to the local attraction points and is provided by the spinning of the transport substrate. Pills are collected from the bin or plenum at the local attraction points, counted, cleaved from the local attraction points and guided to a container or vial.
US08091732B2	Plastic food container with leveraged, conical, area seal A food container made of thin plastic sheet material comprises a bowl and a lid, each having a peripheral sealing region with a downwardly facing channel generally shaped like an inverted “U”. The outward edges of the channels are lockingly engaged. The channels mate and engage to form a primary seal at a conical interface and a secondary seal at a rib. The rib may be on either the base, the lid, or both. Leverage provided by elastic forces in the lid's channel tightens the seals.
US08091730B2	Readily cleanable spill-resistant drinking vessel and valve A no-spill drinking vessel includes a cup, lid, spout and valve assembly. The valve assembly includes: a liquid-out valve with hinged flap, air vent check valve, air and liquid inlets, air and liquid outlets, and a mechanism for retention to the lid. The valve assembly is constructed from inexpensive molded elastomeric components. In usage mode these components cleave sealingly together by the resilient returning forces they exert on each other's complementary interlocked geometries. The fluid and air passageways, inlet and outlet port openings, mouthpiece channels and openings, and the interior volumes of the valve bodies are defined by spaces between the abutted elastomeric components. When manually separated into a cleaning configuration, the interior liquid-contacting surfaces become exposed, external surfaces for ready cleaning. The closure is baby-proof and small parts are tethered together.
US08091728B2	Wet well apparatus with base form and installation method regarding same A wet well apparatus, and installation method therefore, that includes a cylindrical body extending between a first end and a second end along a body axis defining an interior material holding volume and a base form closing the first end of the cylindrical body to define a base interior volume adjacent the interior material holding volume of the cylindrical body. The base form is configured to receive a flowable fill material in the base interior volume.
US08091726B2	Pressure vessels with safety closures and associated methods and systems A pressure vessel having a cell with a locking pin, and a cap and associated methods and systems. The locking pin may be configured to engage the cap when the pressure vessel is pressurized to prevent rotation of the cap without depression of the cap.
US08091722B2	Fuel tank fuel system The present invention provides a fuel draw and return system including a plate, a first fuel tube secured to the plate, and a second fuel tube secured to the plate, wherein the first and second fuel tubes are secured to one another and to the plate to define a triangular shaped connection configuration.
US08091718B2	Cap for sealing nipple A cap includes a cavity for receiving the rounded tip of a nipple. The cavity narrows from an open end to a neck, and widens from the neck to a closed end. The neck forms an interference fit with the rounded tip, and the interference fit forms a sealed compartment in the cap that encloses an aperture in the rounded tip.
US08091715B2	Adjustable pallet display unit There is provided an adjustable display pallet and a method for manufacturing display pallets. In certain embodiments, display pallets have a pallet base, corner columns, and span members that are adapted to hold individual products or trays of product. Corner columns are adhered to the pallet base in the desired locations. Span members are then inserted through insertion portions on the corner columns. The insertion portions are shaped to receive and secure span member ends. Optional end caps, backer panels and print panels may be provided on the pallet displays to enhance visual aspects of the display, as well as provide additional marketing space.
US08091709B2	Child-resistant package A child-resistant package includes a rectangular tray having a pair of sidewalls, a pair of laterally opposed spring arms extending from the sidewalls, a finger tab on each spring arm and a locking lug adjacent to each finger tab. A rectangular shell has an open front end, a pair of sidewalls, a slot extending longitudinally along each of the sidewalls and terminating short of the open front end of the shell, and a locking pocket extending from each slot at a position spaced from the open end of the shell. The tray is slidably received in the shell with the spring arms interiorly adjacent to the shell sidewalls and the finger tabs slidably received in the slots. The locking lugs on the finger tabs are resiliently receivable in the locking pockets on the shell sidewalls in the closed position of the tray within the shell. The finger tabs may be pushed toward each other against resiliency of the spring arms to release the locking lugs from the locking pockets, and then slid forwardly along the slots until the finger tabs engage the ends of the slots adjacent to the open end of the shell to retain the tray within the shell in an open position of the tray extending from the open end of the shell. The tray preferably includes an integrally hinged lid that is closed when the tray is disposed within the shell.
US08091704B2	Perforated blister packaging A blister package includes a plastic blister being between top and bottom covers. The plastic blister further includes a perforation that partially extends around a product enclosure. A cut line intersects the perforation along an interior portion of the plastic blister to provide a location for tearing the product enclosure from the plastic blister.
US08091703B2	Package of tobacco articles having an inner package with a cover flap fixed to a hinged lid A package of tobacco articles, having: a group of tobacco articles; a cup-shaped outer container (2) having an open top end (6), and a cup-shaped lid (7) hinged to the outer container (2) along a hinge (8) to rotate, with respect to the outer container (2), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end (6) respectively; and an inner package (3) which is housed inside the outer container (2), encloses the group of tobacco articles, and has a tobacco article extraction opening (4) closed by a cover flap (5); at least a portion of the cover flap (5) is connected permanently and non-removably to the lid (7), so that opening and closing the lid (7) simultaneously also opens and closes the cover flap (5).
US08091701B1	Magnetic brush protector and storage apparatus Disclosed are embodiments of an apparatus to store and protect paintbrushes. The apparatus comprises a first outer shell flexibly coupled to a second outer shell in an arrangement suitable for the storage of a paintbrush in the interior space described by first and second outer shells. A brush shaping flap, which is flexibly coupled to an outer shell, maintains the shape of brush bristles while a brush is stored in the apparatus. One or more magnetic elements are used to hold the brush in place in the apparatus. The magnetic elements are positioned to engage the ferromagnetic ferrule of a paintbrush. An attachment means may be coupled to the apparatus thus allowing for convenient attachment to a persons belt. A plurality of ventilation holes may be provided on the apparatus. A spring means may be provided for urging the bristle shaping flap against the brush bristles.
US08091700B2	Dual use paint brush package and paint palette A package for holding and displaying paint brushes includes one or more receptacles for holding paint. Once the paint brushes are removed from the package, empty paint receptacles formed in the cover of the package can be filled with paint and thereby serve as an artist's palette. The package can be reused over and over and thereby reduce trash.
US08091698B2	Transport device for a finger jointing system A transport device for a system for finger jointing pieces of wood, by packets, has a support. Transport means are provided, which are set up for moving the pieces of wood sliding along the support to the system for finger jointing. The transport means have a gripping device for holding the pieces of wood in place by packets, aligned flush at a first end, which is situated upstream, while the pieces are being pulled to a work station by way of the support.
US08091697B2	Driver unit for a clutch assembly, in particular a wet-running double clutch assembly A driver module for clutches, in particular wet-running double clutch assemblies, including a clutch housing and a cover which are connected with each other, enclosing an interior space. The cover is rotationally fixed in relation to the clutch housing in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction by a connecting ring.
US08091695B2	Dampening element of a vibration damper and a vibration damper A dampening element for a vibration damper and a vibration damper. The dampening element comprises a body part having flow openings, a dampening part arranged to abut against the body part, the dampening part having openings aligning with the flow openings of the body part. In addition, a cover part is arranged against the dampening part, the cover part being movable in relation to the dampening part for changing the cross-sectional flow area of the openings of the dampening part.
US08091690B2	Self-boosting disk brake The invention relates to a self-reinforcing, in particular electromechanical disk brake having a wedge mechanism as the self-boosting device, for example. The invention proposes that the actuating device be attached to a separate holder, which does not have forces or torques of the wedge mechanism applied thereto.
US08091689B2	Automatic parking brake The invention relates to an automatic parking brake acting on a disk brake and in which the piston of the brake comprises a cavity in which there is a spring (1) allowing pressure to be applied to the end (12) of the piston cavity. A washer (5) is positioned between the inlet (13) of the cavity and the spring (1). A pressing device (4) allows pressure to be applied to the washer (5) so that it preloads the spring (1).
US08091687B2	Elevator system In an elevator system, an operation of a car is controlled by an operation control section. When a specific user in the car is certified by personal authentication of a personal authentication section after a landing call registration operation is performed by a user through a landing call operation section provided on a landing, the operation control section counts registered specific floors present in a traveling direction of the car according to the landing call registration operation in the registered specific floors based on registered floor information received from the personal authentication section, and performs a destination floor registration with the registered specific floor being a destination floor of the car if the number of the counted registered specific floors is one.
US08091682B2	Sound absorbing system for electronic device Disclosed herein is a sound absorbing system used for an electronic device that has enhanced noise reduction capabilities, while maintaining the cooling performance of the device and without increasing the size of the device. A disk array has multiple fans installed on each of the right and left sides of its front section. A frame that houses a sound absorbing system is placed in the middle of an airflow path through which air passes from the fans. Two sound absorbers are arranged inside the frame such that each of the sound absorbers faces the right-side or left-side fans. Airflow paths through which air passes from the fans are located in the space between the two sound absorbers. The airflow paths are partitioned by an acoustic board such that each of the airflow paths does not have parallel side faces. The frame, the sound absorbers, the acoustic board, and the airflow paths constitute the sound absorbing system. The sound absorbers and the acoustic board are made of sound absorbing materials such as glass wool, urethane foam, and the like. The sound absorbers and the acoustic board are arranged such that they prevent the fans from being seen from the outside of the sound absorbing system.
US08091678B2	Input control pattern A control system for a construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided. The control system includes a plurality of joysticks supported by an operator seat assembly of the motor grader.
US08091673B2	Straddle type vehicle A straddle-type vehicle (e.g., a motorcycle) includes an electrical component accommodating section to protect one or more electrical components from heat generated by an engine, even when the vehicle is stopped. The vehicle includes a head pipe, at least one tank rail extending rearward from the head pipe, and at least one down pipe extending downward from the head pipe. A first joint portion is defined between the head pipe and the tank rail, and a second joint portion is defined between the head pipe and the down pipe. An engine is disposed generally between the tank rail and the head pipe. The electrical component accommodating section houses at least one electrical component and is defined generally between the first and second joint portions. In a preferred mode, at least a portion of the electrical component accommodating section is made of heat insulating material to shield the electrical component from heat generated by the engine.
US08091671B1	Powered snowboard A snowboard has a removable tripod at the rear. A tiller mounts atop the tripod. The rider end of the tiller supports a motor. The distal end of the tiller supports a powered wheel. The power assembly doesn't compromise the shape and dynamics of a traditional snowboard as much of the prior art has. Another advantage is that it can be made integral with the snowboard and also easily removed. The ease of control with the handle and radical turning ability of over 180° make it unique in this field. The tripod mounting and balancing are also unique and useful. It is lighter in weight and simpler than previous embodiments in this are. The tiller can be locked with the wheel up for freestyle snowboarding.
US08091670B2	All terrain vehicle In an all terrain vehicle, an engine unit is at least partially disposed under a seat. An exhaust pipe includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is connected to a rear surface of the engine unit, and extends rearward therefrom. The second portion is connected to the first portion, and has a U-shaped configuration. The third portion is connected to the second portion, and extends forward therefrom. A muffler is connected to the exhaust pipe. The muffler is arranged such that the first portion and the third portion at least partially overlap with an area located between two tangent lines of the muffler. The tangent lines of the muffler are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a tangent line shared by the first portion and the third portion.
US08091669B2	Battery positioning structure for electric vehicle A battery positioning structure reliably positions battery modules on a vehicle chassis even when battery modules have different sizes and heights. The battery positioning structure includes a bracket having at opposite ends not only check plates which are configured to be positioned on a body of the electric vehicle but also locks at opposite side edges of the bracket, the bracket being configured to be attached to outer surfaces of the battery modules and to unite the battery modules, and bands configured to extend across the bracket, and linked to the locks at opposite ends of the bracket. The battery modules and the bracket are positioned on the body of the electric vehicle.
US08091667B2	Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain based on predictive effects upon an electrical energy storage device A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electrical energy storage device and electric machines. A method for operating the powertrain to control the electric machines is effective to attain a predetermined state of life profile for the electric energy storage device.
US08091666B2	Electrically powered vehicle, control device for electrically powered vehicle, and computer readable medium An electrically powered vehicle includes: a boost converter that boosts a power supply voltage and outputs a boosted voltage; an inverter that receives the boosted voltage from the boost converter and controls a rotating electric machine for travel; and a control device that performs control to limit the boosted voltage when it is determined that the rotating electric machine is in a locked state and both an accelerator and a brake are not operated to be on.
US08091663B2	Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling the same In a charge mode (YES in S10), before charging of the electricity storage device by an external power source is started, electricity is supplied from an electricity storage device to an electrically-heated catalyzer (EHC) (S20) and an electrical resistance of the EHC is determined (S30). When it is determined based on the determined electrical resistance that there is no abnormality in the EHC (NO in S40), charging of the electricity storage device by the external power source is started (S50) and electricity is supplied from the external power source to the EHC (S60). When it is determined that there is an abnormality in the EHC (YES in S40), electricity is not supplied to the EHC (S70).
US08091662B2	Hybrid drive for vehicles and method for controlling a transmission for a hybrid drive A hybrid drive for vehicles includes at least a main engine, especially an internal combustion engine, a generator, an electric engine, and a planetary transmission including a sun wheel, an internal-geared wheel, a planet carrier, and planet wheels. The planetary transmission also includes at least one output shaft. For a first driving mode of the vehicle, the drive shafts of the main engine and the electric engine are coupled to the sun wheel of the planetary transmission, for the addition of the torques, and, for another driving mode of one of the engines, one of the two engines can be coupled to the internal-geared wheel of the planetary transmission in a non-positive manner, for the mechanical addition of the rotational speeds according to the superposition principle.
US08091660B2	Hybrid traction system A hybrid traction system for the traction of a vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, at least a first electric machine and at least a second electric machine, first transmission means suitable for being connected mechanically to said internal combustion engine and to at least one of said electric machines, second transmission means suitable for being connected mechanically to at least one of said electric machines and to the wheels of the vehicle; the system comprises furthermore connecting or restraining means suitable for enabling mechanical power to be transmitted to the wheels of the vehicle only by the internal combustion engine through said first transmission means and said second transmission means. This allows to drive the vehicle using only the internal combustion engine.
US08091659B2	Hybrid vehicle having engageable clutch assembly coupled between engine and traction motor A hybrid vehicle includes a battery system, an internal combustion engine, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, and an engageable clutch assembly. The engageable clutch assembly is disposed between the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator. When engaged, the engageable clutch assembly couples the rotor spindle of the second motor/generator with the hollow rotor shaft of the first motor/generator. The engageable clutch assembly may also operate in a first mechanical mode that selectively engages and disengages the internal combustion engine from the second motor/generator, or operate in a second mechanical mode that dampens shock between the internal combustion engine and the first motor/generator when the international combustion engine operates at a rotational speed that is different than a rotational of the first motor/generator.
US08091657B2	Frame for an all terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
US08091653B2	Methods of formulating weighting agents using processed waste waters In oil or gas well drilling, saline water is collected and separated into first and second streams of solid or liquid products containing salts. The first or second product is added to drilling fluids as a weighting agent.
US08091652B2	Method and device for controlling at least one drilling parameter for rock drilling The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling drilling parameters when drilling into rock with a drilling machine. During drilling, an impulse-generating device using an impact means is arranged to induce shock waves in a tool held against the rock, the said impulse-generating device being displaceable in the drilling direction relative to a supporting means, wherein a pressure level of a shock-wave-generating pressure is controlled during the drilling operation. A drilling speed of the said drilling is determined by determining a movement of the impulse-generating device with respect to the said supporting means, and the said shock-wave-generating pressure is controlled as a function of the said drilling speed that has been determined.
US08091648B2	Direct connecting downhole control system A system and method are provided for direct connecting downhole control hydraulics through an oil field hanger, where the hanger is coupled to a wellhead, to hydraulic lines extending outside the wellhead. Further, the direct connection allows hydraulic system integrity with reduced contamination and leakage. Hydraulic tool ports, formed on the hanger, are coupled with hydraulic lines extending downward to a hydraulic tool. Side ports, formed in the hanger, are fluidicly coupled to the hydraulic tool ports. Hydraulic lines extending outside the wellhead are directly coupled with the side ports by accessing the side ports through access openings in the wellhead when the ports are aligned with the access openings. The system can still maintain pressure within internal spaces of the wellhead after the connection by sealing the access openings with flanges, where the hydraulic lines extend through openings in the flanges that are also sealed around the lines.
US08091640B2	Method and device for cementing a well or a pipe Introducing within a well or pipe a mandrel equipped with an inflatable membrane which can expand radially under the effect of an internal pressure. Positioning the mandrel opposite the portion to be treated, in introducing a pressurized fluid within the membrane such that its end regions form annular bulges pressing firmly against the wall, whereas its mid-region expands to a lesser degree. Forming a peripheral annular space into which is then injected a cement which is liquid but able to harden. Leaving the cement to set so as to form a solid sleeve. Deflating the tubular membrane. Withdrawing the mandrel together with the deflated membrane. The method can be used in the oil sector, particularly for repairing and/or plugging a portion of casing.
US08091637B2	Proppant for use in a subterranean formation A method for filling an annular area within a wellbore penetrated by a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) introducing a proppant into a wellbore to form a gravel pack of the proppant, wherein a specimen of the proppant has a non-globular and non-fibrous shape, and wherein the shape is further selected to provide the proppant the ability to bridge together such that the proppant has a maximum bridging span of at least 3 times larger than a largest overall dimension of the proppant specimen, where the maximum bridging span is the largest outlet hole diameter that the proppant can bridge under the weight of gravity; and (b) passing fluid through the gravel pack.
US08091635B2	Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool Apparatus and methods to remove impurities at a sensor in a downhole tool are disclosed. During the testing and/or sampling of formation fluid in a borehole, the downhole tool creates a transient high rate of fluid flow of the formation fluid to remove impurities at the sensor.
US08091634B2	Single packer structure with sensors A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer flexible skin and one or more drains coupled to the outer flexible skin. The single packer further comprises one or more sensors positioned to detect one or more specific parameters that may be related to well characteristics and/or single packer characteristics.
US08091633B2	Tool for locating and plugging lateral wellbores A tool used for treating and/or maintaining a wellbore that includes acoustic transducers for locating a lateral wellbore that intersects a primary wellbore. The tool includes a sensor to sense water and/or gas, and if the water and/or gas enters the primary wellbore from a lateral wellbore, the lateral to primary intersection can be identified by correlating information from the sensor and acoustic transducers. If needed, the tool can be used to plug the water and/or gas supplying lateral wellbore. The tool may include a bendable sub portion for orienting a portion of the tool for insertion into the lateral wellbore and a plug section for plugging the lateral wellbore after insertion therein.
US08091632B2	Method and device for the in-situ extraction of a hydrocarbon-containing substance from an underground deposit A device for the in-situ extraction of a hydrocarbon-containing substance, while reducing the viscosity thereof, from an underground deposit, has at least one injection pipeline extending in the deposit and at least one production pipeline leading out of the deposit, which together form a so-called well pair. The injection and production pipelines each have a starting region extending above ground in some areas, and an active region connecting to the starting region inside the deposit. With the method, during a heating phase hot steam is applied to the injection and production pipelines, while during a production phase hot steam is applied only to the injection pipeline. Furthermore, the active region of the injection pipeline is additionally configured as an induction heater regarding the surrounding area in the deposit. In the associated device, for example, the well pair formed by the injection pipeline and production pipeline can be configured as electrodes.
US08091629B2	Adjustable wireline sheave for stuffing box A stuffing box assembly for a wellhead intervention has a stuffing box and an adjustable sheave. The stuffing box has a body with a collar for connecting to a wellhead and with a passage for running wireline therethrough. A frame connected to the body has side plates and has a hub assembly with hubs rotatable about a first rotational axis. An axle interconnects the two hubs and supports them between the side plates. The sheave can rotate about the second rotational axis of the axel to run the wireline into and out of the stuffing box. The hub assembly can be rotated about its axis of rotation to adjust the location of the axle's axis of rotation. This can move the sheave away from a fixed guard, can change how the sheave lines up with the stuffing box, and can move the sheave away from the stuffing box.
US08091624B2	Cooling system in a motor vehicle A radiator element in a motor vehicle is disclosed, the motor vehicle including a body, a driver's space with at least one door for access to the driver's space, and a step element with at least one step and situated below the door. An engine cooling system includes a radiator element in which a circulating coolant is cooled by an airflow flowing through the radiator element. The radiator element is positioned close to the step element. An air inlet aperture is positioned between or behind the steps. The radiator element is a second radiator element of the vehicle, operable when the first radiator element cools insufficiently.
US08091619B2	Heat exchanger with indentation pattern The invention relates to a heat exchanger with an indentation pattern, and specifically a heat exchanger with heat exchanger plates (1) provided with a special pattern instead of the traditional herringbone pattern. The pattern comprises at least one section with bulges (2) and hollows (3), said bulges and hollows having flat tops and bottoms intended to be placed against respective hollows and bulges of a heat exchanger plate of a corresponding design. The surface area of said tops and bottoms is such in relation to the distance between the tops and bottoms that channels (6) for the flow of a medium are formed between the bulges.
US08091618B2	Exchange apparatus An exchange apparatus comprised of hollow perfluorinated thermoplastic tubes fusion bonded into a perfluorinated thermoplastic material to form unified terminal end blocks is disclosed. The hollow tubes are shaped by plaiting the tubes into cords and thermally annealing the cords to set the bends of the plait. The apparatus can have a housing bonded to the unified terminal end blocks. In use a first fluid enters the hollow tubes at openings in a first unified terminal end block, flows through the lumens of the tubes, and exits the tubes through a second unified terminal end block. A second fluid enters the housing, is separated from the first fluid by the wall of the tubes, and substantially fills the space between the inner wall of the housing and the outer diameters of the hollow tubes. Energy is transferred between the first and second fluids through the tube walls.
US08091616B2	Enhanced heat transfer tube and manufacture method thereof A heat transfer tube can comprise a tube body, and outer fins integrated with the tube body which are formed by allowing material on the tube body to extend along radial direction of the tube body and wind and extend around the tube outer surface in helical manner, wherein microscale channels are formed on at least one lateral surface of the outer fin. The invention has the advantage that the microscale channel is formed on at least one lateral surface of the outer fin to help increase the heat exchange area of the outer fin surface, improve the fluid disturbance, enhance the forced convention heat exchange out of tube, and significantly improve the heat transfer coefficient; when the enhanced heat transfer tube in the present invention is applied on an evaporator, the microscale channel can greatly increase the number of the nucleation sites, so as to enhance boiling heat exchange in condition of low heat flux density; when the enhanced heat transfer tube in the present invention is applied on a condenser, the microscale channel can improve distribution of liquid membrane thickness on outer fin surface to enhance condensing heat exchange.
US08091615B2	Heat transfer pipe with grooved inner surface A heat transfer pipe 21 with grooved inner surface is provided with a pipe body 22 having a pipe axis line ◯ as a center axis line, a plurality of first fins 23 each having a fin height Hf, formed by providing a plurality of spiral grooves 200 at an inner surface of the pipe body 22 along the pipe axis line ◯ and at least a second fin 24 having a fin height hf, provided at a groove bottom of at least one of the spiral groove 200. The fin height hf and a torsion angle α of the second fin 24 are determined respectively to satisfy the following conditions: Hf/15≦hf≦Hf/3 and α=β, when P=W×di×sin β and P≧0.86 wherein a bottom width of the spiral groove 200 is W, a torsion angle of the spiral groove 200 is β, and an inner diameter of the pipe body 22 is di.
US08091614B2	Air/fluid cooling system The present invention is an air/fluid cooling system. In one embodiment an apparatus for dissipating heat from a heat-generating device includes a base having a first side configured for thermal coupling to the heat-generating device, an air-based cooling path coupled to the base, for dissipating at least a portion of the heat via air, and a fluid-based cooling path coupled to the base, for dissipating at least a portion of the heat via a fluid. The air-based cooling path and the fluid-based cooling path may be operated simultaneously or individually to dissipate heat from the heat generating device and to allow access to the cooling system, for example for maintenance, repairs and upgrades.
US08091606B2	Operating wand for venetian blinds An operating wand has a handle, an upper rod connected by an intermediate rod having one end pivotably attached to the upper end of the handle and the opposite end pivotably attached to the lower end of the upper rod. A sleeve slides along the upper rod between a first position and a second position. When in the first position the sleeve covers a portion of the upper rod, the handle, and the intermediate rod, keeping the handle, intermediate rod and upper rod in a co-linear alignment. When the sleeve is in the second position, the handle and intermediate rod are fully exposed allowing the intermediate rod to be moved relative to the handle and the upper rod so that the intermediate rod is normal to the handle and normal to the upper rod. With the sleeve in the second position the wand can be operated like a crank.
US08091605B1	Acoustic panel assembly An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.
US08091601B2	Equipment for bonding by molecular adhesion The invention relates to equipment for carrying out a process for bonding by molecular adhesion of two substrates to one another during which the surfaces of the substrates are placed in close contact and bonding occurs by propagation of a bonding front between the substrates. The invention includes, prior to bonding, a step of modifying the surface state of one or both of the surfaces of the substrates so as to regulate the propagation speed of the bonding front. The surface can be modified by locally or uniformly heating or roughening the surface(s) of the substrate(s).
US08091598B2	Motorcycle tire A motorcycle tire comprises a tread portion having a tread face curved along a radially outwardly convex arc in the cross section of the tire including the rotational axis of the tire. The tread face is provided in the ground contacting region during straight running with three parallel circumferential grooves which are: a wide circumferential groove having a width Wg1 of from 8 to 16 mm and extending along the tire equator; and a pair of narrow circumferential grooves disposed one on each side of the tire equator and having a width Wg2 less than the width Wg1. Each of the narrow circumferential grooves is positioned such that the distance L1 measured along the tread face from the tire equator to the axially outside edge of the narrow circumferential groove is not more than 35% of the width (tw) of the ground contacting region during straight running measured along the tread face.
US08091595B2	Wood splitter In a wood splitter for splitting a log of wood into several pieces comprising a receiving chamber for the log of wood which is limited by a stand arranged parallel to the axis of the log of wood, and transverse to the stand and relative thereto, is further limited by limit stops projecting in a direction normal to the said axis of the stand, with at least one limit stop being movable in the direction of the axis and at least one limit stop being designed as a splitting unit a high degree of user-friendliness and a rational method of operation may be achieved in that a splitting wedge designed in the manner of an insert pin held only in the area of the base thereof is associated with the end of the receiving chamber, which splitting wedge can accommodate a splitting insert comprising an insertion pocket which can be inserted into the insert pin, and further a set of tools attached to the insertion pocket containing several splitting wedges which are arranged according to a desired pattern of pieces resembling the blossoms of a tulip.
US08091594B2	Hands free device for filling tanks The present invention relates to novel devices and methods of filling tanks designed for holding non-hazardous fluids, especially tanks on recreational vehicles. In a preferred embodiment, the tank to be filled is a water tank. The device of the present invention incorporates several novel and non-obvious features to create a device that permits the filling of tanks in a hands-free manner while keeping water waste to a minimum and preventing the damaging of tank, fill neck or other tank or fill components due to the over filling of the tank.
US08091592B2	Board storage container and check valve A substrate container has a container main body to contain a substrate and a check valve which has a cylindrical housing and a valve disc installed in the housing and controls gas flowing from and to the interior and the exterior of the container main body, and is formed by inserting the housing into a through-hole of the container main body. When an end of the valve located inside the container main body is defined as a front end, a check valve has a fixing ring that is mounted on the rear end side in the manner of being rotatable relative to the housing and fixes the housing to the container main body from rearward, and the housing has a first housing installed on the front end side and a second housing inserted into the first housing at the front end and attached to the first housing.
US08091591B2	Device for filling vessels A device for the filling of vessels, with a container for liquid and pressurized gas and at least one filling pipe connected with this, which filling pipe comprises a liquid valve and a return gas pipe, whereby a gas pipe discharges into the filling pipe outside the return gas pipe, which gas pipe is connected with the container by means of a pre-stressing valve, so that the pre-stressing valve is positioned on the upper side of the container and the gas pipe discharges into the container from above.
US08091589B2	Loom and drive device of loom A loom (1) has feed motor (27) rotating a warp beam (3) in a direction to feeding warps (V) from the warp beam (3), a heddles (10) opening and closing the warps (V) fed off from the warp beam (3), a reed (13) beating wefts (H) inserted into the openings of the warps (V) by a weft inserting device (11), a surface motor (61) rotating a surface roller (17) to pull in the woven fabric (W), which has been beaten by the reed (13) and formed of the warps (V) and the wefts (H), in the pulling direction, a position detector (35) detecting the tension of the warps (V), and a control device 25 having an adaptive filter unit (83) filtering the tension detected by the position detector (35), and controlling the feed motor (27) and the surface motor (61) on the basis of the tension filtered by that adaptive filter unit (83) so that the tension of the warps (V) to a predetermined target tension.
US08091583B2	Double check valve for a fuel system Disclosed is a valve having a housing formed with a downstream port and an upstream port, with an axially displaceable plunger biased into sealing engagement of a major flow path extending between the downstream port and the upstream port for admitting flow only in the upstream direction, with the plunger formed having a normally closed minor flow path for admitting flow only in a downstream direction.
US08091582B2	System and method for hydraulically managing fluid pressure downstream from a main valve between set points A system for hydraulically managing fluid pressure between selected set points includes a pilot control system operably coupled to a main valve. The pilot control system includes at least one fluid conduit, a variable orifice assembly, and a control pilot valve apparatus. Fluid is passed through a fixed orifice and into a first chamber of the control pilot valve apparatus. Fluid is passed through the variable orifice of the variable orifice assembly and into a second chamber of the control pilot valve apparatus. The main valve is hydraulically opened or closed in response to a pressure differential between the first and second chambers of the control pilot valve apparatus so as to manage fluid pressure downstream of the main valve between the selected upper and lower set points.
US08091580B2	Pilot switch A pilot valve is switchable between snap and throttle modes. The pilot valve supplies output gas to a process control valve and has an adjustable biasing member for applying an adjustable force to a pilot plug in a pilot body interior. An opposed force is applied to the pilot plug to overcome the adjustable force and the output gas.
US08091578B2	Axially adjustable fill limiter vent valve A fill limiter vent valve (FLVV) adapted for suspension downward into a fuel tank has upper and lower housing members having openings in their cylindrical walls cooperating to define a spill-over level for fuel into the FLVV producing float-initiated vent valve closure during a fuel fill event. The lower housing member has a latching member fixedly engageable with one or more cooperating latching features of the upper housing member in a plurality of relative axial positions; and the spill-over level is varied by relative axial movement of the housing members between those positions. Axial alignment of the latching member and the cooperating latching features is maintained by axially aligned, interacting surface features of the housing members.
US08091577B2	Valve A valve seat 20 is arranged between the supply circuit 8 and a downstream circuit 18. A valve body 21 blocks a fluid flow between the supply circuit 8 and the downstream circuit 18 by contacting the valve seat 20. The valve body 21 connects the supply circuit 8 to the downstream circuit 18 for supplying the fluid to the downstream circuit 18 by separating from the valve seat 20. A through hole 24 extends through the valve body 21 and thus defines a part of the supply circuit 8. The through hole 24 is defined in such a manner that the fluid that has flowed from the through hole 24 proceeds between the valve seat 20 and the valve body 21 and is thus supplied to the downstream circuit 18. The valve body 21 is formed in such a manner that a pressure receiving area at an upstream side of the through hole 24 is smaller than a pressure receiving area at a downstream side of the through hole 24. This reduces a pressure loss caused by the fluid passing through a backflow prevention structure that permits forward fluid flow from the supply circuit 8 to the downstream circuit 18 but prohibits backflow of the fluid.
US08091576B2	By-pass and pressure regulator valve A by-pass and pressure regulator valve exhibiting: an inlet mouth and an outlet mouth set in reciprocal communication by a main conduit; a by-pass mouth. The by-pass and pressure regulator valve comprises: an obturator, mobile between at least a closed position, in which it interrupts fluid communication between the main conduit and the by-pass mouth, and at least an open position, in which the fluid communication is not interrupted; operating pressure control means, predisposed to move the obturator from the closed position; means for determining a flow pressure loss in fluids crossing the main conduit, arranged along the main conduit in order to separate a first tract upstream of the main conduit from a second tract downstream thereof; obturator command means governed by a fluid pressure difference between the first tract and the second tract of the main conduit, distinct from the operating pressure control means but operatively connected to the obturator.
US08091575B2	Valve system A valve system for monitoring and controlling a flow of a fluid additive into a main fluid line is disclosed. The system includes a pump that provides a constant flow of the additive from a fluid reservoir through a supply conduit into the main fluid line. A portion of the fluid additive may be diverted into one or more return conduits leading back to the reservoir by opening a solenoid actuated valve in the return conduit. Flow meters are employed to detect the flow rates of the fluids in the supply conduit and the main fluid line. The flow meters provide signals to a control system, which are effective to control the operation of the solenoid actuated valves to maintain a desired flow of the additive into the main fluid line.
US08091573B2	Pipeline intervention An apparatus and method for accessing a sub sea pipeline. The apparatus comprises a entry guide (2) having a channel extending there-through for guiding a pipeline intervention device and means for attaching the entry guide to the external wall of a section of pipeline so that the longitudinal axis (b) through the centre of the channel of the entry guide forms an angle of between about 1° and 10° with the longitudinal axis (a) through the centre of the pipeline section.
US08091563B2	Hair styling apparatus having cloth-covered heating member A hair styling apparatus has a heating member and a cloth covering at least a portion of the heating member to define a hair-facing surface onto which hair is placed in contact therewith for heating. The cloth is constructed at least in part of a monofilament of a fluorinated polyethylene. In another embodiment, the cloth is responsive to heating of the heating member to shrink relative to the heating member in at least one of a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of the cloth. In yet another embodiment, the cloth is unbonded to the heating member and held in tension over the portion of the heating member that defines the hair-facing surface.
US08091562B2	Cosmetic product applicator with multiple typically oriented elements Applicator (1) for a cosmetic product, typically a mascara, comprising an application means (4) having an axial core (40) which is unitary with axial rod (3) at its lower part (31) and a stack (41) of a plurality of N elements which cooperate with axial core (40) through a typically central orifice (50) allowing the axial core (40) to extend therethrough, characterized in that: the elements are elements E (5) lacking complete rotation symmetry, and the axial core (40) and the plurality of elements E (5) operate jointly with an angular orientation means for elements E (5) with respect to axial direction (10), in a transverse plane (11) which is perpendicular to the axial direction (10), in a manner that each element Ei (5) is rotatably connected with axial core (40) and has a predetermined angular orientation αi with respect to the axial core (40).
US08091559B2	Applicator for a hair treatment composition The present invention relates to an applicator (1) which allows for precise, non-messy and even application of a hair treatment composition to a hair strand. The applicator (1) comprises a plate (10) movably joined by a connection (30) to a well (20) and at least one metering layer selected from non-wovens, foams or combinations thereof. The metering layer has a caliper of from 0.15 mm to 39.5 mm and a compressibility as defined herein of from 59% to 93%. The metering layer may be a first metering layer (50) and be laid upon the rim (222) of the well (20) or may be a second metering layer (60) and be laid upon the internal surface (101) of the plate (10), preferably along the perimeter (103).
US08091557B2	Device to light and extinguish a cigarette with recovery of the cigarette The device consists of a first container body (1) with a lighter for a cigarette and a housing seat (2) having a size suitable to house a cigarette and it further has a container body (8) to extinguish the cigarette.
US08091551B2	Facemask with filtering closure There is provided a protective media and a method of manufacturing the same. In one aspect, the protective media includes a porous dielectric carrier, an active agent incorporated in the porous dielectric carrier, and an electrostatic charge across at least a portion of the porous dielectric carrier. This innovative media is capable of eradicating microorganisms and/or toxins more efficiently than prior art solutions and can also self sterilize.
US08091549B2	System and method of administering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient A method and system for delivering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient. The method and system provide a known desired quantity of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient independent of the respiratory pattern of the patient. The preferred pharmaceutical gases are CO and NO, both of which are provided as a concentration in a carrier gas. The gas control system determines the delivery of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient to result in the known desired quantity (e.g. in molecules, milligrams or other quantified units) of the pharmaceutical gas being delivered. Upon completion of that known desired quantity of pharmaceutical gas over a plurality of breaths, the system can either terminate any further delivery of the pharmaceutical gas or can activate an alarm to alert the user that the known quantity has been delivered. The system also has alarm functions to alert the user of possible malfunctions of the system.
US08091548B2	Anti-condensation device for catheters An anti-condensation arrangement for catheters including a heated air generator, a sheath covering a catheter such as to create a cavity with it, and a device for the input of heated air produced by the generator into the cavity wherein the sheath has a venting opening to allow the exit of heated air from the cavity and therefore continuous exchange of air.
US08091545B2	Apparatus for dispensing pressurized contents Containers for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents are described. The containers comprise a vessel suited to contain pressurized contents, a port integral with the vessel and through which pressurized contents contained in the vessel can be released from the vessel, preferably incrementally in approximately equal amounts, and a measuring device disposed in or otherwise associated with the vessel such that the quantity or amount of contents in the vessel can be measured or assessed. The measuring device senses ambient conditions in the vessel and, directly or with other components, indicates, for example, the amount of pressurized contents remaining in the vessel and displaying it to an observer. Devices for incrementally dispensing pressurized contents from such containers are also described.
US08091543B2	Cooking oven with anti-condensation door The present invention generally relates to a cooking oven, which is provided with a cooking cavity and a door adapted to close the cooking cavity. The door is provided with an outer frame and one or more glass panes supported by such frame along the periphery thereof. On the surface of at least one of the glass panes there are applied heating means, which include a layer of substantially clear, e.g. transparent resistive material, and means adapted to connect two sides of such layer of resistive material to appropriate terminals energizable by an electric voltage supplied from a source available inside the oven.
US08091542B2	Electric toy gun with a power break control mechanism An electric toy gun having therein a power break control mechanism consisting of an actuator, a power break control set and a swinging block for breaking off power supply upon triggering of the trigger when the clip is empty. When the clip is empty and when the trigger is pressed, the actuator is forced by a spring-loaded lift rod at the bullet outlet of the clip to move the swinging block and the power break control set, causing a power break holder to be moved away from a power contact holder, and therefore power supply is disconnected, avoiding waste of power supply and component damage.

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